The Story of Columbus' Success

Columbus, Ohio has stood out from its midwest peer cities, with strong growth. Can the city keep it up?

1 minute read

August 8, 2018, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Columbus

Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock

"Most of the fastest growing cities in America are in the Sun Belt or the Pacific Northwest, but one city in 'fly-over' country is keeping pace—Columbus, Ohio," according to an article by Adam Millsap.

There's lots of good news about population growth, income growth, and housing prices to report for Columbus, but Millsap also notes warning signs that the city's success might not last. The concern grows from the need for the city to drive growth with in-migration. Most of the recent growth in Columbus has come from people moving in from other parts of the state, and that's a trend that can't continue indefinitely.

Still, Millsap concludes with optimism:

Even though there are reasons to suspect Columbus’s growth will slow down, this doesn’t mean it can’t be a healthy city. As long as city officials and residents focus on providing core services, don’t stretch their finances too thin, and maintain a business environment that rewards innovation and success, Columbus should remain a good place to live and work even without the rapid growth.

Monday, August 6, 2018 in Forbes

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation