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Columbus: Demographics & People

914,802 people call Columbus home, in 390,528 households. Population grew 0.9% from 906,480 (2022) to 914,802 (2024). Median age 33.2 years. (1.6y younger than Franklin County; 4.9y younger than Ohio). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 51% White (non-Hispanic) and 29% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.59). 52% of households are family-led. County is gaining 9,607 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 32% adult obesity, 12% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 0.9% from 906,480 (2022) to 914,802 (2024) — about 1.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~923,237 (extrapolated at 0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 934,578.

Census data vintage2024
Population214,124 people
Annual growth rate · Population change0.9%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)906,480
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)914,802
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorystable
Population914,802 people (vs Ohio 29,269)
Population Estimate934,578
Population NoteCensus Place population (905,748) covers all 3 counties, not just Delaware County

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 33.2y is 5.7 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age33.2 years (vs Ohio 38.1y)
Age Summary · Children Pct22.0%
Age Summary · Characteryoung professional
Age Summary · Total Pop914,802
Age Summary · Under 18201,218
Age Summary · 18 To 34287,528.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 64322,524.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus103,532
Population under 18201,218
Median age33.2 years (vs Ohio 38.1y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 914,802 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.59 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.

White residents482,843
Black residents263,048
Asian residents52,431
Hispanic or Latino residents71,511
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)59.0%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelmoderately diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share55.5%
Asian population5.9% (vs Ohio 1.9%)
Black population29.1% (vs Ohio 8.0%)
Hispanic or Latino population8.3% (vs Ohio 4.5%)
White (non-Hispanic) population50.7% (vs Ohio 77.9%)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (8)

(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Asian
(unnamed)
Italian
(unnamed)
American

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 15% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state571,013
Residents born in another state194,133
Share born in this state62.4%
Share born in another state37.6%
Native-born U.S. citizens21.2%
Foreign-born residents1.4%
Naturalized citizens15.0%
Total foreign-born residents126,215
From Europe7,850
From Asia140
From Africa43,515
From Latin America864
Census Foreign Born · Caribbean150
Census Foreign Born · Central America35
Census Foreign Born · South America103

Households & Family Composition

390,528 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 52% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 200,236 families, 25% are married couples with children.

Children under 18200,328
Total families200,236
Married couples with children50,683
Single-parent households10,096
Average household size2.29
Women who gave birth (past year)13.4%
Grandparents living with grandchildren12,560
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren5,131
Family households202,235 households (vs Ohio 7,027)
Households that are families51.8% (vs Ohio 55.9%)
Total households390,528 households (vs Ohio 12,056)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 19.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 9,607 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)19.7%
Migration · People moving in (annual)244,611
Migration · People moving out (annual)235,004
Migration · Net migration (in − out)9,607
Migration · Population growingYes
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Disability

Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.

Residents with a disability49,412
Disability rate5.5%

Group Quarters

Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 23,705 residents live in group quarters (2.6% of population).

Living in group quarters23,705

Veterans

Veterans Services · Total count1

Sources: IRS BMF keyword

Other

Census CountiesDelaware County, Fairfield County, Franklin County
Congressional District · District12
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips39041
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips39
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips041
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyDelaware
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate4.2%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci3.50
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci4.90
Cdc Mortality · Fips39041
Cdc Mortality · CountyDelaware County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralLarge fringe metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20233,556
Cdc Vaccination · Fips39041
Cdc Vaccination · CountyDelaware County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct82.5%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct78.6%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct61.9%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019209,177
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score10
Family Score · Schools235
Family Score · Childcare Centers398
Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs4
Family Score · Children Pct22.0%
Family Score · Ratingexcellent
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 914,802, stable, young professional, middle-class, mixed
Town Summary · Population914,802 people (vs Ohio 29,269)
Town Summary · CountyDelaware County

Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade