Incoming medical resident looking for expert housing advice (Columbus, Westerville: apartment complexes, for rent)

[MDApplicant]

Hello good people of Ohio,

I am about to begin my medical residency at the Ohio State Medical Center.

A few questions:

1. I don't mind a 20-25 minute commute. Is there a drastic difference in commute times with respect to Hilliard, Dublin, and Powell?

2. It appears that Hilliard is more affordable than Dublin. Is it true that people in Dublin are generally less down to earth than in Hilliard? The academic world can be stuffy as it is, would appreciate kind, and friendly neighbors.

3. Which areas in Hilliard should be avoided due to higher crime(relatively) or poor resale value?

4. We would love a fence backyard due to having little kids. It appears that Dublin doesn't generally allow that. Are there areas in Dublin where there are less backyard fencing restrictions?

Thanks!

[Rosebush1]

Welcome to the area. Not sure what price range you are considering.

Hilliard is the most affordable with quite a mix of single family and multi familiy housing. There are areas of Columbus that feed to Hilliard schools and these areas will be cheaper.

If you can afford it I would vote for Dublin. The community is great and people are as friendly or not friendly as any other suburb in the area.
The zoning and fencing restrictions help make Dublin an esthetically pleasing community.
There are areas of Columbus that feed to Dublin schools. This area includes various neighborhoods off Sawmill road. People often refer to these areas as Dublin but they are really in the municipality of Columbus. Zoning regs are less strict and you will see fencing. The areas are cheaper to buy in but not nearly as nice as Dublin proper.

Powell is further out in Delaware County. More traffic snarls as the road network is not as developed. It is a greater distance with longer commute times.

For traffic you need to do dry runs at rush hour to test various commutes out.

[Jbeechuk]

Keep in mind Hilliard has among the highest property taxes in all of central Ohio, if you are buying. Hilliard has a broad range of home prices. The northern part is typically newer with more expensive properties. More south are smaller, older homes that are cheaper. And parts of Hilliard can be in the Columbus school system and vice-versa. Same with Dublin, so do your research.

[bgfalcons86]

As a resident of Hilliard, and as with Dublin, there is an important distinction to make between the City of Hilliard, areas with a Hilliard ZIP Code (which includes portions of Columbus near Hilliard) and Hilliard City Schools attendance area.

Dublin and Powell (like Upper Arlington and New Albany) are elite suburbs. Hilliard is a step below that and comparable to Westerville or Gahanna, being middle-to-upper middle class, with some working class and affluent areas throw in for good measure.

If you buy in the Hilliard area, I'd say to make sure you're inside the Hilliard City Schools attendance area. Resale will not be an issue, as homes have been selling rapidly and home values are on the rise. Hilliard has done a lot of work in the Old Hilliard area and it has become an attractive area with restaurants, etc. It is popular with the locals. The newer homes that are currently being built are definitely marketed toward the upper-middle class. Even the newer apartment complexes being built are on the pricey side for rents.

Dublin is a great option, if you can afford it, and worth your time to take a look. I'm not particularly fond of the Sawmill Road area, but there are some attractive homes and it is more affordable that the rest of the Dublin area. A good portion of the Sawmill Road area is actually inside the city of Columbus, but Dublin schools. Muirfield / Tartan are affluent areas with a pricetag to match. The rest of Dublin is generally upper-middle class. Resale is not a problem in Dublin.

Powell is an upper-middle class suburb that is attractive with great schools. One possible downside can be the traffic if you're commuting.

Do your research. Central Ohio can be confusing for newcomers with all of the different jurisdictions (municipal, school district, etc.) that don't always line up the way you think they might.