Moving to Columbus after graduation - Where to Live Young Professionals (Westerville: safe area, living)

[megrosec]

My cousin and are both moving to Columbus for jobs after graduation and are looking for a place to live. I've been to OSU a couple of times and am familiar with the Short North/High Street area. We are looking for a place ideally around $1400. I am not sure what the best young professional neighborhoods around are. We will be commuting to the Polaris area. So I am thinking something on the north side. The only place I have really looked so far is around the Short North and Grandview. How is commuting traffic out of the city in the morning/into the city in the evening? Would that cause issues?

[kmhaimes]

I live in the short north and commute to Polaris for work. The commute is not too bad, but getting on 71 south at the end of the day is hit or miss. Overall, expect 30 to 45 minutes with traffic. We love the area, theres a ton to do and all within walking distance. I especially like how you can walk to campus or downtown area or just go down high street to all the great bars and restaurants.

[ssommer]

Westerville/New Albany are very nice/safe areas to live close to Polaris but still close to DT. Working for chase?

[megrosec]

@kmhaimes - awesome thanks! ive been to the short north and love it around there, i dont think id mind that commute, my cousin is working in Dublin, would that be more/less of a commute for him? ..

@ssomer- oh awesome do a lot of young professionals live in those areas?.. yes

[ssommer]

I believe so. If you are looking for a really nice "community" atmosphere I would really recommend the LC communities definitely a bit more expensive for the amount of space but a lot of young people and benefits to joining a community.

[megrosec]

@ssomer great! i will look into the LC communities then as well thank you

[ohioaninsc]

If you are interested in a more older neighborhood type of feel...I'd look into Clintonville...North of campus, so commute to Polaris wouldn't be too bad, definitely shorter than Short North would be. Still has some younger people around and is close to campus.

[jbcmh81]

Maybe the very southern part of Clintonville has some younger people, but overall, Clintonville has one of the oldest median resident ages in Columbus. The average age is in the mid-40s for much of it.

[megrosec]

@ohioaninc I would prefer the mid 20s crowd, looking for an area with lots to do where I live and 20-45 min max commute to Polaris

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by megrosec

@ohioaninc I would prefer the mid 20s crowd, looking for an area with lots to do where I live and 20-45 min max commute to Polaris

Very, very few commutes in Columbus are in the 45 minute range, especially living near Downtown and commuting to Polaris. Not to say you wouldn't encounter traffic at times, depending on the time of day, but I would think that suburban traffic would be heading into Columbus when you're going to the suburbs, and vice-versa.

I'd suggest basically anywhere near or along High between German Village/Brewery District to North Campus. Perhaps Grandview as well. However, all of these places are super hot right now as far as living, so vacancies are extremely low. I would try to either find a new build that hasn't filled up yet, or something older that's a bit further away. In your price range, you should be able to find a decent 2-bedroom, but it probably won't be on High itself.