What makes Columbus’ priciest suburbs so expensive to live in

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Nine of Ohio’s top 20 most expensive cities to live in are in the Columbus metro area. Housing costs have been rising rapidly in recent years, but many of central Ohio’s most expensive suburbs have been expensive for some time.

According to a 2020 report from Ohio State, local amenities, schools, crime rates and social networks are among the most important factors driving home values in a neighborhood. The study found these features self-reinforce, meaning rich neighborhoods typically stay rich and get richer, furthering the economic gaps among neighborhoods and suburbs. Many of central Ohio’s wealthiest neighborhoods have a history of wealth. Watch previous coverage of central Ohio’s housing crisis in the video player above.

Marble Cliff — average home value of $753,057

Violent Crime: 1.19 per 1,000 residents, according to estimates by Area Vibes
Schools: Marble Cliff residents attend Grandview Heights Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 634, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

Marble Cliff is a small village supported by amenities from Grandview Heights. If you can afford the high home prices, the tax benefits are substantial. According to Marble Cliff, the village has the lowest municipality property tax rate in central Ohio at just 0.35 mills and has a municipal income tax rate of just 2%. The city also has Paul J. Falco Park for local greenspace, and residents of Marble Cliff are able to use many facilities in Grandview Heights.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income for Marble Cliff is $134,688. This wealth is nothing new — according to central Ohio historians Esther Marsh and Pat Garbrandt, the area was originally home to wealthy Columbus families seeking to escape downtown.

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Galena — average home value of $602,757

Violent Crime: 1.9 per 1,000 residents, according to estimates by Area Vibes
Schools: Galena residents can attend Big Walnut Local Schools, which received four stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 924, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

According to Rocket Mortgage, Galena homes are getting pricier. The median home sold price in December by Rocket’s data is 9.6% more expensive than it was a year ago. Galena has a low income tax rate at just 1%, which could be an incentive for people with higher incomes. It is also home to hiking trails and is situated between Big Walnut Creek and Little Walnut Creek, offering plenty of outdoor activity.

Galena was founded by Gilbert Carter in 1809 and was originally a milling town, according to the village’s historical marker. However, the town was best known for its thriving shale tile and brick business, which operated from the 1890s until 1983, according to the village’s LinkedIn page.

New Albany — Average home value of $595,568

Violent Crime: 0.88 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout
Schools: New Albany residents can attend New Albany-Plain Local Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 10,825, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

Recently ranked as the number one suburb in America by Business Insider, the area is one of the fastest-growing cities in Ohio. Tech companies are flocking to the area and investing billions, but to live there, residents also need to be able to invest. The median income in New Albany is $232,524, according to the U.S. Census

Initially founded in 1873, the city was transformed by wealth when Victoria’s Secret, PINK and Bath & Body Works founder Les Wexner partnered with Jack Kessler to create The New Albany Company. According to Kessler, he and Wexner lived in Bexley and wanted a change farther from Downtown. The pair settled on New Albany because they could shape it into something new and attracted young professionals and wealthy families by expanding the city’s amenities.

Upper Arlington — Average home value of $590,969

Violent Crime: 0.14 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout
Schools: Upper Arlington residents can attend Upper Arlington City Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 36,800, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

Upper Arlington has parks and recreation opportunities, including Fancyburg Park and the new Bob Crane Community Center scheduled to open this spring. Upper Arlington was founded by King and Ben Thompson in 1914 and was exclusive from the start. The U.S. Census lists the median income for Upper Arlington as $150,993, and it has sought wealthy residents from its inception.

Modeled after Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza, the city was built with a clear vision, catering to the upper class. In 1926, the city had many property deeds that banned Black residents from owning property and required all house employees to be white. Upper Arlington has condemned this practice, which was ended in 1971. However, the effects of the racially restrictive clauses still exist today, and only 1.3% of residents are Black, according to the U.S. Census. Some land deeds still have these clauses, although they are illegal to enforce.

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Riverlea — Average home value of $545,542

Violent Crime: 1.19 per 1,000 residents, according to estimates by Area Vibes
Schools: residents can attend Worthington Schools, which received 4.5 stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 599, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

Riverlea is a small community within walking distance of downtown Worthington that was incorporated in 1939. Like several other expensive villages, it uses neighboring cities’ schools and resources to support it. It is situated between the Olentangy River and North High Street and is bordered by Rush Run Nature Preserve, offering green space.

According to copies of The Worthington News from the 1930s, Riverlea debuted as an “attractive and very desirable” place to live. A June 1938 edition reported 25 lot owners planned to build new homes for those who wanted to live near downtown but could afford not to live in the thick of things. According to the 1938 article, hundreds of people visited the area just to see the homes.

Powell — Average home value of $543,450

Violent Crime: 0.21 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout
Schools: Powell residents can attend Olentangy Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 14,163, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

Powell has seven community parks and a median household income of $191,250. Its community amenities reflect a higher tax bracket, and it has a program where local police will monitor homes if their owners go on vacation. It has doubled its population in the last decade, according to the city’s website.

Powell was settled in 1813 and renamed for Judge Thomas Powell in 1857 after he established the village’s first post office. Per the Powell-Liberty Historical Society, although few people lived there, a railroad passed through Powell, establishing it economically as a place to stop. Powell first grew in the early 1980s when central Ohioans began exploring residential development for what was then a village.

Bexley — Average home value of $541,235

Violent Crime: 2.27 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout
Schools: Bexley residents can attend Bexley City Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 13,928, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

Bexley offers several green spaces, including the lawn behind the city’s public mansion. Jeffrey Mansion was donated in 1941 and it is used for community activities and recreation. Bexley’s housing market is competitive due to its high-ranking school district, low crime rate and many trees. It is classified as an arboretum

Bexley formed in the late 1800s as a neighborhood for wealthy Columbus residents and Capital university professors, and it was incorporated in 1908, according to the city. After the Spanish-American War, improved transportation led some prominent Columbus families to develop the area as an exclusive community, building mansions and beginning the wealth associated with the city, according to Touring Ohio. According to deed records from the Ohio History Connection, Bexley land deeds also excluded Black residents from owning property in the city.

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Dublin — Average home value of $537,907

Violent Crime: 0.67 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout
Schools: Dublin residents can attend Dublin City Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 49,328, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

The city of Dublin lists its median income at $148,493 and is home to several large corporations, including Cardinal Health, United Healthcare, Nestle and Wendy’s, according to the city website. The city is proud of its annual three-day Irish Festival and the annual Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour. Downtown Dublin is particularly attractive, with shops and restaurants within walking distance of one another.

According to the city, Dublin began with an economy based on milling, farming and tourism, with taverns and hotels for travelers along what is now State Route 161. The city said in the late 1880s, a stone quarry industry emerged, earning Dublin a reputation as a rough town. The city said it transitioned from a poorer village to a suburban hotspot in the 1970s after developments emerged in city limits, and today its home value has increased thanks to the strong development and amenities in the city.

Plain City — Average home value of $521,020

Violent Crime: 0.69 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout
Schools: Plain City residents attend Jonathan Adler Schools, which received four stars on its 2023-2024 state report card
Population: 4,065, according to the 2020 U.S. Census

Plain City has undergone mostly recent development due to the growth of Columbus as a whole. According to the city, Plain City is expected to continue rapidly growing over the next 25 years, especially as new housing developments and job opportunities continue to pop up in city limits. The city said its rural charm is enticing for many moving to the Columbus area, although some residents have voiced concerns about the rapid growth, according to the city’s FAQs.

The city has natural features, including Big Darby Creek, that are a draw for many residents. Unfortunately, the creek also had major floods four times in the 20th century. Plain City grew very slowly in its first years, according to the city, and a good portion of its population came from an Amish settlement established in 1896. The city said it had become a crucial stop along a railroad for livestock shipping by the 1920s.

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