The Columbus metro is home to 2,151,847 people (up 4.8% over five years), with a median household income of $79,847. Typical rent of $1,525/month works out to 22.9% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Columbus's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.3% |
| Professional & management | 12.0% |
| Retail trade | 11.1% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 9.2% |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.9% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Columbus market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,525/month suggests a household income around $61,000/year. The metro's median household income is $79,847.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.3%), Professional & management (12.0%), Retail trade (11.1%) (Census ACS 5-year).