Columbus OH used to be a secret … not anymore!

• Located within 600 miles of 60% of the U.S. population.
• Delaware County is the 13th fastest growing county in the U.S.
• The region has a younger demographic profile than the rest of the State or Nation with 35% aged 24 years or younger, and a larger prime working age population with 45% aged 25 to 54.
• Columbus is among the Top 10 lowest cost real estate markets in the country according to Conway Data.
• According to the National Association of Realtors®, the median house price in Columbus is $153,900 which is 31% less than the national average.
• The Columbus region has one of the most stable major metropolitan housing markets in the U.S. rated by PMI Group with home prices remaining stable or increasing for most of the region when national housing prices were falling.

WE’RE EDUCATED …

• Nearly 40% of Columbus professionals have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. This rate is 9% higher than the national average.
• The region’s 20 colleges/universities are currently attended by 110,000 students. These institutions confer more than 21,000 degrees annually, of which 5600 are advanced degrees.

A GOOD PLACE FOR A JOB …

• With a population of 1.7 million in eight counties (Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union), the region is a launching pad for corporations and inventions known worldwide.
• The region is home to the headquarters of 15 Fortune 1000 companies … six of which are Fortune 500 companies. The flagship companies born here include: Limited Brands, Wendy’s, Nationwide, BankOne (now Chase), Worthington Industries, Longaberger Baskets, Cardinal Health, and the Scotts Company.
• The region is also home to internationally-recognized research institutions, including:
  • Battelle, the world’s largest contract R&D organization, known for Xerography (copy machines), the bar code, the sandwich coin, and technology for compact discs.
  • OCLC – Online Computer Library Center with more than 60,000 client libraries in 112 countries
  • Chemical Abstract Service, which provides the world’s largest and most current collection of chemical and related scientific information.
  • Edison Welding Institute, North America’s leading organization dedicated to R&D of welding and materials joining technology.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR CITY …

• 8th Best City to Live (Money magazine, Aug 2006)
• One of America’s Top-Rated Cities (Grey House Publishing, May 2006)
• Top 10 Shortest Commute Time Among Major Cities in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, Feb 2004)
• One of the nation’s best metro areas for the arts ranked by The Places Rated Almanac.
• Top 10 City for Art (American Style Magazine, Apr 2006)
• Shape Magazine ranked Columbus as one of the nation’s Top Five Cities with outdoor appeal and activities (Jun 2007)
• fDi magazine ranked Columbus 3rd among “Large Cities of the Future” and 4th among “Most Business-Friendly Large Cities” as well as “Most Cost Effective Large Cities” (Apr 2007).

WHAT THE CHAMBER FORGOT (Elaine’s list) …

• The BUCKS can generate over 75,000 fans in the Spring to attend their SCRIMMAGE Red-Gray game!
• The state north of Ohio that looks like a mitten is referred to as “that state up north”. The actual name of that state is not muttered, except in a negative manner – especially during the Fall.
• If you move here and want to fit in quickly, you WILL become an OSU fan. (let this be a warning!!!) There’s a reason there is no Pro football team here. The Bucks are our Pro team.
• If you want to sound like a native, you’ll pronounce the city name “Clumbus”. Drop the ‘o’.
• The favored river is pronounced “Olen-tan’-gee” NOT “Olen-tang’-ey”.
• Don’t expect to buy a 2000 sq ft reasonably new home on an acre with trees for less than $200,000. Ain’t gonna happen!!
• After living here a year, you’ll come to appreciate the SUN!