Looking to move to Columbus, OH with your kids? Ohio’s capital city is a great place in the Midwest to settle down, thanks to its affordable real estate, top schools, and more. Check out these top Columbus neighborhoods and suburbs for families!
| Neighborhood | Bexley | Clintonville | Gahanna | Powell | Upper Arlington |
| Median Home Price | $337,683 | $270,860 | $228,800 | $386,200 | $335,316 |
| Median Rent Price | $395 | $1,087 | $1,153 | $1,711 | $776 |
| Median Household Income | $114,868 | $87,515 | $89,945 | $159,368 | $102,607 |
| Safer than % of Ohio cities | 95% | 95% | 26% | 89% | 95% |
| High School Graduation Rate | 97% | 96% | 94% | 100% | 98% |
To see how the cost of living in Columbus stacks up to where you live now, check out our cost of living comparison tool.
Bexley
Situated along Alum Creek, the City of Bexley is a safe, affordable suburb located just ten minutes east of Downtown Columbus! This historic Columbus area was established in 1908 and offers a variety of housing options, ranging from affordable ranches to charming Tudor-style homes, all ideal for raising a family. Parents can find great public schools in the area like Cassingham Elementary School and Bexley High School, part of the highly-ranked Bexley City Schools. College students living in Bexley can earn their degrees in Business Management, Nursing, or Education at Capital University. With several parks in the area and plenty of shopping and dining options, there are many things to do in Bexley for residents!
Things to Do in Bexley
Spend an afternoon at Drexel Theatre watching independent films or attending events like the Drexel Red Carpet Bash and Drexel Gala. Take your toddler for storytime, check out a new book, and more at the Bexley Public Library. Enjoy a bike ride or play a game of softball on the field at Wolfe Park. Sign the little ones up for summer camp or spend the day looking at butterflies and admiring over 140,000 tulips at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Savor the Original Pizza Sub or go for Hawaiian Pizza or Greek Pizza at Bexley Pizza Plus. Enjoy Japanese sushi rolls such as Dragon Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, or Shrimp Tempura Roll from Moshi Sushi. Start your morning off with French Toast, a Veggie Omelet, or Pancakes from Scotty’s Cafe. Or try the Chicken Milanese, Branzino, or Cacio e Pepe—and save room for Blueberry Bread Pudding from neighborhood favorite Giuseppe’s Ritrovo.
Clintonville
Located in Franklin County, Clintonville is a top destination for families in Arch City. This Columbus neighborhood offers Craftsman and Tudor-style homes that are ideal for growing families and is home to well-rated schools like Clintonville Academy, The Graham School, Colerain Elementary School, and Whetstone High School. Ranked as one of the best cities for young professionals, Columbus offers educational jobs at Ohio State University. In addition, Clintonville is home to Overbrook Ravine Park and the Clintonville Farmers Market—for kids and their parents to explore!
Things to Do in Clintonville
Take a stroll through the beautiful Columbus Park of Roses, a 13-acre public garden that has over 7,500 roses. Spend an evening watching blockbuster films and eating popcorn at Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse. Shop for vintage furniture and clothes as well as handmade items unique from over 65 vendors at Eclectiques Antique Mall. Sign the kids up for tennis lessons, play a game of pickleball, and more when you become a member at Olympic Indoor Tennis. Feast on Vietnamese dishes like a Pho Soup Bowl or Rice Bowl at 6-1-Pho. Enjoy a blend of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean entrees like Gyro, Tabouleh, or Chicken Kabob and save room for a piece of Baklava from Lavash Cafe. Enjoy homestyle cooking with dishes like Country Fried Steak, Homemade Meatloaf & Dressing and try a piece of Lemon Meringue Pie from Tee Jaye’s. Or order tasty treats like Carrot Cupcakes, Pumpkin Walnut Muffins, or Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies from Pattycake Bakery.
Gahanna
Gahanna has everything families are looking for in a Columbus suburb. Here, families find spacious housing options, plenty of dining and entertainment options, and a convenient commute into Columbus! Gahanna has a wide array of outdoor recreation spots—including its many local parks and Gahanna Woods State Nature Reserve—along with quick access to John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Not to mention, it’s an ideal home for families that love live music, festivals, and outdoor events, which can be found at nearby Creekside Plaza!
Things to Do in Gahanna
Explore the hiking trails and appreciate the trees and wildflowers at Gahanna Woods Park. Get in some bowling with the family or host your kids birthday party at Gahanna Lanes. Play a game of baseball or basketball with the family on the fields at Academy Park. Take the kiddos for a round of golf on the glow-in-the-dark prehistoric-themed course at Glow Putt. Feast on Mexican favorites like a Chimichanga or Fajita Quesadilla at Mi Tradicion. Try Italian dishes like Fettuccine Alfredo, Shrimp & Lobster Ravioli, or Eggplant Parmigiana at Lola & Giuseppe’s Trattoria. Order the Prime NY Strip, St. Louis Style BBQ Ribs, or Shrimp Cocktail from The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek. Or sink your teeth into Nachos “Grande”, BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza, or Bacon Cheeseburger from Gahanna Grill.
Powell
Looking for a quiet, family-friendly suburb to raise a family in Columbus? Check out the City of Powell. This northern Columbus suburb in Delaware County is ideal for families, offering schools in the Olentangy Local School District, one of the top-ranked school districts in Ohio, including Tyler Run Elementary School, Scioto Ridge Elementary School, and Liberty Middle School. Located about 20 minutes from Downtown Columbus, Powell offers families suburban living with access to a variety of things to do—from annual events like Powell Festival and Memorial Day Parade to attractions like the Emily Traphagen Park.
Things to Do in Powell
Spend a day with kiddos going down the water slides at the Baboon Lagoon, ride out the waves at Wild Tides Wave Pool, and other attractions at Zoombezi Bay—Ohio’s largest water park. See the California sea lion at the Adventure Cove or get up close with kangaroos at the Kangaroos Walkabout at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Take your toddler to the Liberty Toddler Storytime or find a new book to read at the Delaware County District Library‘s Liberty Branch. Connect your mind, body, and soul with a yoga class or train to be a yoga instructor at Collective Soul & Yoga Movement. Enjoy breakfast all day with favorites like Biscuits & Gravy, Chicken & Waffles, or a Reuben Omelet from Anne’s Kitchen. Looking for Chinese food in Powell? Enjoy favorites like Lemon Chicken, Sweet & Sour Pork, or Mongolian Beef from Golden China. Have the Water’s Edge Cheese Curds, Fish & Chips, or Farmhouse Chopped Salad from Liberty Tavern. Or dig into Eggplant Pizza, Stromboli, or Meatball Parm Sandwich from Brooklyn Pizza.
Upper Arlington
Want a family-friendly place to live that’s just outside of The Discovery City? Located on the northwest side of the city, the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington may be the place for your family! This popular Columbus area is great for families looking to settle down in cozy ranches or trendy condos and apartments near top-rated schools within the Upper Arlington School District like Greensview Elementary School and Upper Arlington High School. For parents working in the medical field, Upper Arlington is close to the OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. In addition, residents of U.A. can find a variety of things to do among the suburb’s parks, shopping districts, and restaurants!
Things to Do in Upper Arlington
Play a game of golf on the 18-hole course at the members-only Scioto Country Club. Go for a scenic jog or stroll through Cardiff Woods Park. Enjoy a bike ride or picnic with the family at Jack Nicklaus Park. Peruse stores like Ulta, Athleta, and more at Shops on Lane Avenue. Go swimming during the summer at Devon Pool. Order brunch in Arlington with dishes like Berry Belgian Waffle, Sausage & Egg Ciabatta, or BLT with Egg at Chocolate Cafe. Enjoy catching up with friends over afternoon tea service at the Cambridge Tea House. Try the Tuna Tostada, Octopus al Pastor Taco, or Carne Asada at Lupo. Or devour a bowl of Gumbo with Rice, Shrimp Po-Boy or Pasta Russo while dining at Gallo’s Kitchen & Bar.
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The team at Extra Space Storage understands that moving to a new city can be stressful, which is why we’ve created our Best Places to Live selections to help make the process easier. We’ve done the research for you—considering factors like cost of living, job market, local attractions, and education—to provide a well-rounded and accurate view of each metro area. Check out our methodology page today to learn more about how we select the best places to live.
Neighborhood & suburb statistics from AreaVibes
