Columbus, Ohio area - what can you tell me about it?

[NewJeffCT]

Cross posted in the Ohio forum...

I was just contacted about two jobs in Columbus, Ohio... I'm in Connecticut now. I just wanted to find out a bit about the area - where would a young family live if they wanted good schools & all that stuff if we were to relocate for a job in the Columbus area?

I just want to do some cost of living comparisons and all that, too (not every home in Connecticut is worth a $1 million or more after all)

Thanks

(and, yes I think I do this every few weeks on DU... but, my wife & I both have an understanding that we'd move for the right opportunity for either of us - I even have China as a possible re-lo place because of this)

[Dukkha]

1. I live here

great town yery blue & diverse. Dem Mayor. Clost of living cheap. The best schools are in the north end in westerville.

[WCGreen]

2. Upper Arlington has great old street...

Good schools

And close enough to everything to make it one of the convient spots in town.....

[LisaL]

12. It's also kind of pricey, although I suppose compared to other

cities like NY it's really not.

[Lady President]

3. What do you want to know?

I've lived in Columbus my whole life (Pittsburgh and Cleveland for college, but my home was Columbus). I grew up on the NE side in Westerville, but went to Catholic high school.

Are you looking to live in the suburbs or downtown? The nicest suburbs are on the north side-- Westerville, Worthington, Dublin, New Albany. The downtown area is going through an impressive revitalization. You would want to think about private schools if you moved into the downtown. Or, if you have a little more money, Upper Arlington and Bexley are near downtown, but have lovely homes and great schools.

Politically, don't let the red state fool you, the city voted for Kerry. Mayor Coleman is a Dem. The majority of city council are Dems. It's a gay friendly city. (I assume everyone who posts here has gay friends / family and would be uncomfortable if their environment wasn't open-minded.)

I'm always teased that I should work for our tourism board because I love this city so much, but if you decide to move here, please let me know and I'll give you all my tips. :)

[NewJeffCT]

4. thanks

I checked out Upper Arlington & Bexley in homefair.com and it's about the same as where we are in CT now.

[MalibuChloe]

5. those areas are quite nice...

if you want to live in the more liberal areas, try Victorian Village (just north of downtown) and German Village (just south of downtown). Brick streets and coffee shops and lotsa liberals!).

[NewJeffCT]

6. thanks

it's still way, way early in the process. but, i'll keep them in mind, too.

[Maccagirl]

8. Did you go to DeSales?

I grew upon the north side and went to DeSales High School.

To answer the posters question, I would consider Worthington and Clintonville areas also. I think you and your family would like it here.

[Lady President]

14. Yep, Class of 1989

Wow, typing that makes me feel old... How about you?

I have a running joke with a friend that no matter where you are in the world, you'll run into someone who went to DeSales. :)

[LynneSin]

7. It's Ohio, your vote probably won't ever count again

but it's a nice state - almost as nice as Delaware!

[Beware the Beast Man]

9. It's the largest city in ohio (and the Capital).

It is Cathyclysmic's birthplace.
CD-101 is the best commercial radio station I have ever heard.
I'd live there, but it's too damn flat. Nice place to visit, though.

[DancingBear]

10. Jeff - I went to school in Columbus (OSU) - and I'm (originally) from CT!

Seriously - I know Columbus very well, and can pretty much give you a "Columbus vs. Connecticut" perspective.

PM me with questions, if you'd like.

edit: I can also put you in touch with a GREAT Columbus realtor - sometimes she makes me crazy but she knows Columbus, financing options, etc. like no one else.

[Arugula Latte]

11. I was born there (at OSU Hosp.)

I'm sure there's a statute erected to me somewhere in that city, even though I haven't been there since I was about two weeks old ... ;)

[noonwitch]

13. Max and Erma's was founded there, as was Wendy's

The original Max and Erma's is in German Village, just south of downtown. My brother used to live in the neighborhood just south of that area. Also, Katzinger's deli (also in German Village), while a bit overpriced, is excellent.

[SerutNorellet]

15. Columbus

Columbus is a *good* city. I went to Ohio State for undergrad and grad school, and ended up working at OSU for several years. All in all, I lived in Columbus for 17 years. Upper Arlington, Bexley, Worthington, Dublin, and Hilliard are the suburbs that always had very highly ranked high schools (I helped recruit students to come to OSU). Columbus School for Girls and St. Charles (boys) are two very highly rated private schools -- both are in Bexley.

The interesting thing about Columbus is that it is both very "average" (it's routinely used to testmarket new products) and rather sophisticated and international at the same time -- mainly, I think, because of the university. Ohio State is so huge and really does boast a huge international population of students, teachers, etc. IMHO, the mix makes for a good and intellectually stimulating and tolerant place to live, not just on campus, but all around the city.

[NewJeffCT]

17. thanks, and welcome to DU!

I'm a firm believer in public schools, so unless we relocated to Texas or some other place with bottom of the barrel public schools, I doubt we'd send our daughter to a private school.

[TimeChaser]

16. I'm in Delaware, OH right now

Going to college :)