Who moves to Columbus, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Franklin County, OH, home of Columbus, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 48,757from other US counties
- Moved out
- 58,225to other US counties
- Net
- −9,468more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 366tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Delaware County, OH | 4,187 |
| Fairfield County, OH | 3,219 |
| Licking County, OH | 2,621 |
| Cuyahoga County, OH (Cleveland) | 1,365 |
| Montgomery County, OH (Dayton) | 967 |
| Pickaway County, OH | 864 |
| Hamilton County, OH (Cincinnati) | 841 |
| Union County, OH | 777 |
| Summit County, OH (Akron) | 708 |
| Madison County, OH | 677 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 571 |
| Lucas County, OH (Toledo) | 509 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Delaware County, OH | 7,675 |
| Fairfield County, OH | 5,116 |
| Licking County, OH | 3,838 |
| Union County, OH | 2,097 |
| Pickaway County, OH | 1,795 |
| Madison County, OH | 1,351 |
| Cuyahoga County, OH (Cleveland) | 1,102 |
| Montgomery County, OH (Dayton) | 811 |
| Hamilton County, OH (Cincinnati) | 712 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 669 |
| Clark County, OH | 627 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 481 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 25,647 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Ohio and 23,110 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Cuyahoga County, OH (Cleveland) | 1,365 |
| Summit County, OH (Akron) | 708 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 571 |
| Lucas County, OH (Toledo) | 509 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 421 |
| Stark County, OH | 419 |
| Kings County, NY | 343 |
| Bronx County, NY | 326 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Cuyahoga County, OH (Cleveland) | 1,102 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 669 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 481 |
| Summit County, OH (Akron) | 432 |
| Stark County, OH | 369 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 350 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 339 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 334 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Columbus come from?
Most people moving into Franklin County, OH come from nearby counties, led by Delaware County, OH (4,187 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Cuyahoga County, OH.
Where do people leaving Columbus move to?
The top destination is Delaware County, OH (7,675 people). Farther away, the most popular is Cuyahoga County, OH.
Are more people moving to Columbus or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 48,757 people moved into Franklin County, OH from elsewhere in the US and 58,225 moved out, a net loss of 9,468 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Columbus with any city it trades people with, like Columbus vs Cleveland, Columbus vs Akron, Columbus vs Chicago, Columbus vs Toledo.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Columbus.