Curious About Columbus (Indianapolis, Greenwood, Jasper: house, rent, income)

[mka321]

We want to relocate somewhere south of Indianapolis, South of Greenwood, south of the over-run cities and subdivision happy suburbs and this past weekend started wondering about Columbus. We're also still considering Jasper, but Columbus seems to be a bit more viable, especially career-wise. My husband and myself are both working toward degrees and national certification as massage therapists {with different specialties} and Jasper just seems to have way too high of a therapist-to-population ratio. Also, we want to work with the community at Camp A {DH is retiring National Guard, both of us are military Brats} so Columbus is looking more and more like our ideal area. Just a few questions lingering right now:

1- income/job. Columbus seems a bit more progressive than Jasper, but I worry by nature and am curious if those currently living in the area think a household of two massage therapists would be able to make a decent living in the area, and attend church without getting strange looks or questioned about it {alot of people in Indiana seem to think massage = prostitution}

2- home costs. We are a family of 5 and would be looking for a 3/4 bedroom, 2 bath home on at least a half acre. A portion of our costs will be secured by the VA, but we'd still like to keep it under $150,000 if possible

3- crime. Columbus seems to have a lot of sex offenders for a town of it's size, especially child molestors?

[Jodi McGinley]

Hi mka321 -

Columbus is a nice area. It is still small enough that it doesn't feel crowded and you are close enough to Indianapolis that if you want to trek to the big city, you don't have far to go.

I am not sure about the massage therapy business there, but if it helps, I don't think of massage therapists as prostitutes. I suppose you could probably get an idea of the job opportunities there by first seeing how many spa's there are in the area.

You are definitely right about the sex offenders in the area. You would definitely want to research the area of any place that you are interested in. You can look up where all of the registered sex offenders live online.

[Jodi McGinley]

Hi again mka321!

A contact in the Columbus area suggested this website to help with your research - Massage Schools Directory featuring Massage Therapy Schools and Therapeutic Massage Schools. Look on the left sidebar, choose what you are looking for, and just enter in Columbus, Indiana and it will bring up the therapists and spa's, etc that are registered in the Columbus area.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.

[ShadowCaver]

Who would not desire to live where Boudreaux's Butt Paste is manufactured?

Seriously, nice area, cool parks [Mill Race Park being one], cool architecture [ranked in top ten in country], good wineries and vittles. BTW, the same architect that designed the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial [St Louis Arch, etc.] also left his mark in Columbus. The bridge that carries I-65 traffic over IN46 is also kind of interesting, looking as if its missing part of its suspension...

For a feel for the local news/happenings, check out: The Republic