NY → OH · Queen City of the Great Lakes to Buckeye Capital

Moving from Buffalo to Columbus?

Buffalo to Columbus — NY 10.9% to OH 3.5% saves $7,400/yr, housing 18% pricier — M&T Bank → JPMorgan Chase + Intel + OSU.

320 mi Distance
5 hr Drive time
-18% lower Home prices
$7,400/yr Tax savings on $100K

The Story

Buffalo-to-Columbus is M&T Bank → JPMorgan Chase + Intel + OSU move. NY 10.9% → OH 3.5% saves $7,400/yr. Housing 18% MORE, COL 14% higher. Pull: JPMorgan Chase Columbus (largest non-NYC), Intel $20B fab, OSU Tier 1 research + Wexner Medical, Nationwide HQ.

Why This Move

Why people move from Buffalo to Columbus.

JPMorgan Chase Columbus — largest non-NYC JPM presence
Intel $20B fab Licking County — largest semi investment in US
OSU Wexner Medical — Roswell Park academic bridge
Nationwide Insurance HQ + Battelle Memorial
Major NY tax savings ($7,400/yr)
Buckeyes football culture
Walkable urban (Short North, German Village)
M&T Bank → JPM Chase direct banking bridge

Cost Comparison

The money side of NY → OH.

Buffalo

Median home$195,000
Income tax10.9% (NY top, no city tax)
Cost index83

Columbus

Median home$230,000
Income tax3.5% (OH top)
Cost index95

What to Do in Columbus

Things you'll want to know about your new city.

Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Columbus, organized by what kind of day you're planning.

Outdoors & Recreation

Franklin Park Conservatory — 1895 conservatory with Chihuly glass
Scioto Mile — Downtown riverfront park with fountain
Topiary Park — Topiary recreation of Seurat's 'A Sunday Afternoon...'
Hocking Hills State Park (1 hr SE) — Waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, hiking

Culture & Arts

Ohio State University — Largest US university campus; Ohio Stadium ('The Horseshoe')
Columbus Museum of Art — Strong American Impressionist collection
German Village — Brick streets and 19th-century homes; Schmidt's sausage

Family-Friendly

COSI (Center of Science and Industry) — Hands-on science museum with planetarium
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium — Among top US zoos; Jack Hanna's home

Nightlife & Entertainment

Short North Arts District — Walkable High Street; galleries, restaurants, bars

Where to Eat

Columbus's essential restaurants.

The dining list every Columbus resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.

The Refectory French Northwest

Long-running fine dining in restored church
Lindey's American German Village

Beloved upscale neighborhood spot
Veritas Modern American Downtown

Chef-driven tasting
Schmidt's Sausage Haus German German Village

1886 institution; Bahama Mama sausage
Hot Chicken Takeover Hot chicken Multiple

Born in Columbus, now national
Service Bar American Short North

James Beard nominee
Watershed Distillery American Olentangy

Craft distillery + restaurant
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Ice cream Multiple

Born in Columbus, now national

Where to Live

Best Columbus neighborhoods for Buffalo transplants.

Mapped to the Buffalo neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.

Short North

If Allentown was your scene — walkable urban, restaurants
German Village

If Elmwood Village was your vibe — historic, walkable
Clintonville

If you wanted leafy walkable — independent, family
Bexley (suburb)

If Williamsville was your model — top schools
Dublin (suburb)

If you wanted master-planned — top schools
Upper Arlington (suburb)

If East Aurora was your goal — affluent, top schools

Climate & Walkability

What daily life feels like in Columbus.

Climate

Humid continental. Cold winters (20-40°F). Hot, humid summers (60-85°F). Beautiful spring/fall. 175 sun days/year (one of cloudier US metros).

Summer62-85°F
Winter20-40°F
Sun days/yr175
Rainfall39 inches

Walkability

Walk Score41/100
Transit Score30/100
Bike Score47/100

Columbus is car-dependent — most errands require driving.

Outdoors & Recreation

Scioto Mile — downtown riverfront
Highbanks Metro Park — 1,200 acres of trails
Hocking Hills State Park (1 hr SE) — falls and cliffs
Alum Creek State Park — boating, hiking
Olentangy Trail — 14 miles of paved bike path
Lake Erie (2 hrs N) — beaches, Cedar Point amusement park

Reality Check

What changes about your daily life.

NY 10.9% becomes OH 3.5% — saves $7,400/year on $100K
Housing 18% MORE — $195K Buffalo becomes $230K Columbus
COL 14% higher
Climate similar humid continental
Property tax OH 1.5% lower than NY 2.5%
Car-dependent both
M&T Bank → JPM Chase Columbus direct career bridge
Sports — gain Buckeyes, lose Bills/Sabres

Driving Routes

How to drive there.

I-90 W to I-71 S

320 miles via Cleveland. 5 hours / 1 day.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 320 miles.

Full-service (3BR)$2,800-$5,500
Container/PODS$2,000-$3,500
DIY (26-ft truck)$1,500-$2,800
Best monthsApr-Oct
Lead time4-6 weeks ahead

USDOT-registered.

Common Questions