Columbus receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Columbus
Opportunity
78 · Top 14%
vs83 · Top 5%
Growth
52 · Top 47%
vs68 · Top 22%
Climate
71 · Top 35%
vs68 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
77 · Top 19%
vs77 · Top 18%
Housing affordability
87 · Bottom 30%
vs91 · Bottom 39%
Access
99 · Top 2%
vs99 · Top 2%
Economic stability
81 · Top 13%
vs79 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,272,014 | 2,175,788 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $91,289 | $81,945 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,461 | $44,770 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,363/sq mi | 454/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $351,900 | $300,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,480 | $1,274 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.8% | 61.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.1% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2% | 39.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 12.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 13,571 | 13,239 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 6.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.2% | -16.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.1" | 41.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 25.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 36.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
78
Your Score
75
Area Score
Columbus
81
Your Score
79
Area Score
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Full profiles: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area · Columbus, OH Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology