Columbus Travel Forum

Is Columbus a city for young people? What areas are the best to live in (I.e. downtown, suburbs). I am not familiar with the area. Anything from residents of Columbus would be a big help.

You might want to repost the question and put which Columbus in the title. Columbus is a very common name in the USA.

Columbus Ohio is one city, but there's also a minor city of Columbus in GA and towns in Indiana, Mississippi and Nebraska.

Columbus, Ohio is a nice place to live. The east side is quiet and peaceful. A lot of Christians live on that side because it is in the vicinity of World Harvest Church, a very well nationally known pentecostal church. The east side averages apartments from $300 to $600 1-3 or 4 bedrooms, condos, and a lot of new houses (going up every single day). The north side is more expensive but also beautiful and a bit more spacious (buildings and houses) because being somewhat more expensive, of course, then being less crouded. The west side is about the same as the east side but perhaps a bit less expensive than the east side. The south side is about the same in cost as the east, maybe just a little more expensive, and downtown is probably about the cost of the North. Unless, you work downtown, or plan to go to Ohio State University, it is probably better not to try to live downtown. It's not "action-y" like big cities. Actually, Columbus Ohio is not an "action" city like perhaps New York, Chicago or LA. Actually, Columbus is faster than the the southern states but slower than nothern states. It's in the middle. Peaceful, and nice to live in. If you're in the "partying" category, I suppose you can find it. I don't know because I'm a Christian and although I live right down town there is not much of that that I know of around. I've also lived in the east side and the only "wranchy" lingerie store on that side, I've never seen another car in their parking lot other than the employee's car.

Okay now for a real answer to your question, considering you wrote this in june i hope i am still some help. Im a college student and have lived in columbus my entire life. I also have traveled quite a bit so I can be some help to you. Columbus is a city that offers everything you can want but not always right there at your doorstep. The entire northern part of the city down to downtown is where most of the youngness is. The best nightlife in the midwest, after chicago, lies in columbus with no doubt. High Street runs north and south through the city. Starting in the southern part of downtown just off high street is the brewery district. By the name you can tell an area with restaurants some clubs and beer. In the northern part of the downtown is one of the largest concentrations of young hippness in the whole city. Starting at Nationwide BLVD (northern downtown) you have the Arena District. An area of luxrious movie theatres (you can get mixed drinks whatever you want here) bars, restaurants, large TV screens showing ads, going north adjacent to the Arena District is an area with more bars, clubs, and jazz bars. Adjacent to this is the Short North. The short north is the only arts area of its kind between Wisconsin and Phili. The area is full of art galleries, posh bars, restaurtants, straight/gay bars clubs whatever you want, then just 3 blocks north of the short north starts the university district of the city. Obviously this is very young and hip/hippie. All three of these areas (excluding the university area unless you want to live around party animals) are great places to live if you want a hip renovated area look at victorian village just next to the short north arts district. Assuming your not just visiting.

A calmer yet hip area is Clitionville just north of the campus area. Going north and just a bit east of here you have more young and vibrant neighboorhoods and nice suburbs. Just 10 minutes northeast of downtown is Easton. Easton is las vegas meets the mall of america. GOV Arnold of cali as well as the man who owns the limited, victorias secreet, express, etc owns Easton. It is an outdoor/indoor entertainment complex with everything you can think of. Including Nordstrom which is rare in the midwest.
For suburbs close to the city Grandview ( just west of the art's area and close to downtown etc) Upper Arlington is west of the city and still close. And Bexley east of downtown. The area between downtown and Bexley is just okay and not the ideal spot to live. Worthington is a very nice family oriented suburb. Dublin the northwest of the city is very good as well. Most other suburbs you hear of are farther from the city. Overall Columbus is young and hip but not as big city feeling as even Cleveland. Also, for dining out columbus has the 4th largest amount of restaurants when compared to its population of 700,000. Also, dont forget it is one of the largest concentration of malls and shopping in the whole country. PS. if your into concerts almost every concert passes through columbus. Also, theres a musical at the ohio or palace theatre downtown and many other local theatre troops etc.