Columbus, Ohio Income Statistics
Columbus Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Columbus Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Columbus | Ohio Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,429 | $71,509 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,944 | $58,431 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.0% | 11.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.1% | 9.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Columbus is about 7% lower than in Ohio. Income has been growing faster in Columbus (4.5%/yr) than in Ohio (4.4%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Columbus earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Ohio average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Columbus, Ohio grew by 56.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,429 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Columbus
| Metric | Columbus | Ohio Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.528 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,366 | $67,200 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,936 | $54,076 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 7.3% | 19.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Columbus, it is 0.528, about the same as Ohio's 0.532, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 8% more than women's income in Columbus, Ohio. Over a 35-year career, a 8% wage gap accumulates to roughly $155,050 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbus, Ohio has narrowed from about 12% to 7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 13% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $556 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Columbus | Ohio Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 18.3% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 24,044 people are unemployed in Columbus, Ohio.
The average commute time in Columbus is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Ohio.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Columbus, Ohio has fallen from 9.5% to 5.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.1% in 2023.
Columbus, OH Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Columbus, OH compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 829,538 | $66,429 #2/2 | 4.5%/yr #2/2 | 5.2% #2/2 | 0.528 #2/2 |
| Upper Arlington, OH | 34,990 | $151,903 | 5.5%/yr | 2.3% | 0.478 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Columbus, Ohio has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Ohio, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Columbus, Ohio.
How Rich Is Columbus, Ohio?
Columbus has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $66,429, about 7% lower than the Ohio average of $71,509.
How has median household income changed in Columbus, Ohio?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Columbus, Ohio rose 56%, from $42,555 to $66,429. Over the same years, income here outpaced Ohio as a whole: +56% against +51%.
What was the median household income in Columbus in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Columbus, Ohio was $65,148, up 4% from $62,662 in 2022. The Ohio median that year was $69,792.
What was the median household income in Columbus in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Columbus, Ohio was $54,803. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $66,429.
What is the Gini coefficient in Columbus, Ohio?
The Gini coefficient in Columbus is 0.528. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Columbus, Ohio?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbus, Ohio has narrowed from about 12% to 7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 13% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $556 since 2009.
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