Columbus is a city located in Delaware County Ohio. Columbus has a 2024 population of 915,427. Columbus is currently growing at a rate of 0.25% annually and its population has increased by 0.99% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 906,418 in 2020.
The average household income in Columbus is $82,282 with a poverty rate of 18.13%. The median age in Columbus is 32.7 years: 32.3 years for males, and 33.2 years for females.
It is the county seat of Franklin County, and its size has grown as it has annexed areas of Fairfield County and Delaware County. Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812.
Columbus is the core city of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area, which spreads ten counties and is the third largest metropolitan area in the state, nearly tied with the Cleveland MSA and just behind the Cincinnati MSA. The Columbus metro area is the 28th largest in the country with a population of 2.4 million. The city proper has a population density of 3,625 people per square mile.
Columbus was named as one of the top 50 cities in America in 2012 by BusinessWeek, and it was given an A rating by Forbes a year later as one of the top cities for business in the country. It was also recently named as one of the top cities to relocate in the country and the number 3 best city of the future.
The most common ancestry groups in Columbus are German (19.4%), Irish (11.7%), English (7.9%), Polish (7.2%), and Italian (5.0%). While European immigration to Columbus has declined, the metropolitan area has seen great increases in African, Latin American and Asian immigration, particularly from China, Mexico, India, and Somalia. The city has a diverse Asian population, although the Hispanic community is mostly Mexican with a sizable Puerto Rican population. About 116,000 people in Columbus are foreign-born, which accounts for about 82% of new residents. 40% came from Asia, 23% from Africa, 22% from Latin America and 13% immigrated from Europe.
Columbus also has a large LGBT community of around 35,000. It was rated as one of the best cities in the U.S. for lesbians and gay people, as well as the most underrated gay city.
37.6% of Columbus residents report they are religious. Of this group, 15.7% are Protestant, 13.7% are Catholic, 1.5% are Jewish, 0.6% are Muslim and 0.5% are Mormon.
The Columbus area is currently leading Ohio in population growth, as it has been for several years, both in terms of a percentage share and absolute terms. While four northern Ohio counties ranked in the top 10 nationally for population decline in 2013, Columbus grew by 1.4%.
The Columbus area was once known as the Ohio Country, and the French Empire controlled it in the 18th century during a time when it was a fur trading point. The region was often caught between Native American and European interests. In the 1750s, George Washington was sent to the area by the Ohio Company to survey, and a fight over the territory led to the Seven Years' War with the French and Indian War. The region was ceded to the British Empire in 1763.
After the American Revolution, the Ohio Country came under the control of the United States. When colonists from the East Coast attempted to move to the area expecting empty land, they found several Indian peoples, including the Miami, Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Wyandot nations, who resisted this expansion by the U.S.
After Ohio became a state in 1803, Columbus was chosen as a site for the new capital because it was located centrally and easily accessible. Before this decision, Columbus did not exist. It was designed from the beginning as the capital for the state, and it was founded in 1812 and named in honor of Christopher Columbus. It was chartered as a city in 1834 with a population of 3,500. It became a significant base for the Union Army during the Civil War and housed 26,000 troops as well as 9,000 Confederate prisoners of war in present-day west Columbus. It is now the site of one of the largest Confederate cemeteries in the North.
By 1990, Columbus became the largest city in Ohio in terms of size and population.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Columbus was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 495,311 | 54.89% |
Black or African American | 263,000 | 29.14% |
Two or more races | 63,928 | 7.08% |
Asian | 52,353 | 5.8% |
Other race | 25,659 | 2.84% |
Native American | 1,967 | 0.22% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 231 | 0.03% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 382,140 | 2.3 | 44.7 | 55.3 |
Non Family | 182,465 | 1.34 | 33.8 | 66.2 |
Married | 122,080 | 3.15 | 67.9 | 32.1 |
Female | 57,517 | 3.28 | 32.8 | 67.2 |
Male | 20,078 | 3.16 | 37 | 63 |
3.07
Average Family Size
2.3
Average Household Size
44.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 36,101 | 6.03% |
Associates Degree | 43,333 | 7.24% |
Bachelors Degree | 145,600 | 24.31% |
Graduate Degree | 83,471 | 13.94% |
High School Graduate | 150,516 | 25.13% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 22,148 | 3.7% |
Some College | 117,669 | 19.65% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 349,353 | 328,177 | 159,252 |
Black | 158,983 | 138,281 | 32,694 |
Asian | 35,775 | 30,477 | 21,524 |
2+ Races | 30,632 | 25,941 | 9,544 |
Hispanic | 30,560 | 22,215 | 7,753 |
Other Race | 13,798 | 9,774 | 2,707 |
Native American | 1,197 | 804 | 172 |
Islander | 212 | 206 | 29 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 97.17%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 60.16%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $60,384 | $67,675 | $55,793 |
Graduate Degree | $70,285 | $78,119 | $67,510 |
High School Graduate | $35,052 | $39,734 | $30,253 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $28,280 | $32,985 | $22,001 |
Overall | $46,131 | $50,220 | $41,832 |
Some College | $41,159 | $45,590 | $37,079 |
$46,131
Average Earnings
$50,220
Average Male
$41,832
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
82.88% of Columbus residents speak only English, while 17.12% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other languages, which is spoken by 5.73% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 259,964 | 70,692 | 27.19% |
White | 463,820 | 58,455 | 12.6% |
Hispanic | 59,121 | 14,075 | 23.81% |
Multiple | 62,656 | 13,795 | 22.02% |
Asian | 49,920 | 6,943 | 13.91% |
Other | 25,310 | 5,552 | 21.94% |
Native | 1,953 | 503 | 25.76% |
Islander | 225 | 50 | 22.22% |
18.13%
Overall Poverty Rate
17.25%
Male Poverty Rate
18.98%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Columbus is Black, with 27.19% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Columbus is White, with 12.6% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.82%. Among those working part-time, it was 25.78%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 31.75%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 32.73% |
High School | 18% |
Some College | 13.13% |
Bachelors or Greater | 5.6% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 43.77% |
Male Unemployed | 35.95% |
Female Employed | 9.55% |
Male Employed | 7.22% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $77,105 | $95,014 |
Households | $62,994 | $82,282 |
Married Families | $102,013 | $119,359 |
Non Families | $49,131 | $65,046 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
36.5%
Overall Marriage Rate
38.3%
Male Marriage Rate
34.8%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
37,041
Number of Veterans
33,070
Male Veterans
3,971
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Second Gulf War | 10,534 |
Vietnam | 10,192 |
First Gulf War | 7,671 |
Korea | 1,442 |
World War II | 686 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
35 to 54 | 8,845 |
55 to 64 | 8,267 |
65 to 74 | 7,977 |
75+ | 6,331 |
18 to 34 | 5,621 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 25,289 | 6.05% |
Black | 8,976 | 4.83% |
2+ Races | 1,838 | 4.72% |
Hispanic | 920 | 2.41% |
Other Race | 422 | 2.58% |
Asian | 383 | 0.88% |
Native American | 88 | 6.41% |
Islander | 45 | 19.48% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
9.61%
Veteran Poverty Rate
24.74%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
70.5%
Labor Force Participation
66.8%
Employment Rate
5.2%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
63.04%
Born in Columbus
86.01%
Native Born
13.99%
Foreign Born
7.37%
Non Citizen
6.62%
Naturalized
86.01% of Columbus residents were born in the United States, with 63.04% having been born in Ohio. 7.37% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Africa.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 926,689 | 2,253 | 0.24% |
2028 | 924,436 | 2,252 | 0.24% |
2027 | 922,184 | 2,252 | 0.24% |
2026 | 919,932 | 2,253 | 0.25% |
2025 | 917,679 | 2,252 | 0.25% |
2024 | 915,427 | 2,252 | 0.25% |
2023 | 913,175 | 4,937 | 0.54% |
2022 | 908,238 | 5,054 | 0.56% |
2021 | 903,184 | -3,234 | -0.36% |
2020 | 906,418 | 6,510 | 0.72% |
2019 | 899,908 | 8,460 | 0.95% |
2018 | 891,448 | 9,195 | 1.04% |
2017 | 882,253 | 14,869 | 1.71% |
2016 | 867,384 | 12,108 | 1.42% |
2015 | 855,276 | 13,345 | 1.59% |
2014 | 841,931 | 13,937 | 1.68% |
2013 | 827,994 | 15,122 | 1.86% |
2012 | 812,872 | 12,195 | 1.52% |
2011 | 800,677 | 9,735 | 1.23% |
2010 | 790,942 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 711,470 | 78,560 | 12.41% |
1990 | 632,910 | 67,889 | 12.02% |
1980 | 565,021 | 24,996 | 4.63% |
1970 | 540,025 | 68,709 | 14.58% |
1960 | 471,316 | 95,415 | 25.38% |
1950 | 375,901 | 69,814 | 22.81% |
1940 | 306,087 | 15,523 | 5.34% |
1930 | 290,564 | 53,533 | 22.58% |
1920 | 237,031 | 55,520 | 30.59% |
1910 | 181,511 | 55,951 | 44.56% |
1900 | 125,560 | 37,410 | 42.44% |
1890 | 88,150 | 36,503 | 70.68% |
1880 | 51,647 | 20,373 | 65.14% |
1870 | 31,274 | 12,720 | 68.56% |
1860 | 18,554 | 672 | 3.76% |
1850 | 17,882 | 11,834 | 195.67% |
1840 | 6,048 | 3,648 | 152% |
1830 | 2,400 | -924,289 | -99.74% |