Located just 16 miles from the megacity of Columbus, Westerville is a gorgeous city in Franklin and Delaware counties of Ohio. A charming small town near a big city, Westerville offers sumptuous cuisines, a prolific history, and incredible educational facilities. Besides, despite its limited geography, Westerville is home to more than 40 parks and hosts several community events year-round.  

What is the community of Westerville like?      

Located in the northeast corner of Ohio’s fastest-growing region, Westerville is a serene city home to around 38,000 residents. Incorporated in 1858, Westerville has a long and rich history of Native American cultures. Today, Westerville plays home to a vibrant community that enjoys very high safety standards and a plethora of outstanding recreational opportunities. In 2012, Westerville was ranked fifth on Forbes’ list of “America’s Friendliest Cities.” 

Besides, Westerville has twice appeared on Money Magazine’s list of America’s Top 100 “Best Places to Live.” Thanks to the city’s myriad recreational opportunities and proximity to the metropolitan city of Columbus, Westerville has become one of Columbus Area’s most sought-after places. From the Hoover Reservoir Park that spans over 4,700 acres of a gorgeous and serene landscape to the picturesque 123-acre Inniswood Metro Gardens that is home to more than 2000 species of plants as well as sublime lakes and inspiring woodlands, Westerville is home to as many as 41 parks that offer unlimited opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and swimming.  

If arts and history interest you, Westerville plays home to gems of national museums and art galleries. Pay a visit to the vibrant Miller & Fisher Gallery that is managed by the University of Otterbein’s Department of Art & Art History and is home to an amazing collection of African and Asian artwork. While in Otterbein, you may also want to visit the Frank Museum of Art that also houses a wide collection of art from Japan, New Guinea, and Africa.  

In addition, Westerville is also home to a plethora of restaurants including 101 Beer Kitchen, Asterisk Supper Club, Barrel & Boar, and Café at the Point, among others.  

What is Real Estate like in Westerville?     

Real estate in Westerville has shown an average growth of 2.59% per year since the year 2000. Besides, since 2000, the prices of homes in Westerville have appreciated by a strong 71.2%. Local real estate experts categorize Westerville’s housing market as ‘very competitive’. The sale prices of homes in Westerville have experienced strong growth of more than 7.1% in March 2021 from the same month last year.   

The median home price in Westerville is $314,900. Currently, there are 223 active homes for sale in Westerville, and normally it takes just 33 days for a listed home to get off the market. Moreover, the average cost to rent a house in Westerville is $1,378 per month. At present, there are 14,566 homes and apartments in the city, 73.7% of which are owned, and the remaining 26.3% are rented.      

How is the economic landscape of Westerville?     

Over the last year, Westerville’s job market has grown by 0.9%, while its unemployment rate stands at a decent 3.7%, exactly in line with the national unemployment rate. Also, the city’s job market is expected to grow by 35.7% in the next ten years. Some of the largest employers in Westerville include JP Morgan Chase, Mount Carmel Health System, Otterbein University, and Alliance Data.  

Westerville is a relatively affluent community in the Columbus area. On average, a Westerville resident earns around $38,100 per annum, decently higher than the US average of $28500. The city’s median household income of almost $82,000 per resident is, however, substantially greater than the US average of approximately $54000. Most of the residents of Westerville work in construction, manufacturing, retail, finance, professional and technical services, and healthcare.   

How are the schools in Westerville?     

Westerville is covered by 5 school districts, with Westerville City School District being the city’s major school district encompassing 22 schools and 14,595 enrolled students. Besides, Westerville also lies in proximity to many colleges including Hondros College, Fortis College Columbus, Ohio Business College, and Mount Carmel College of Nursing. 

Westerville is also home to the prestigious Otterbein University. Founded in 1874, Otterbein University is a private university offering 74 majors and 44 minors as well as eight graduate programs. Besides, the university is home to approximately 2,300 undergraduate and 450 graduate students on the campus. 

Westerville in a nutshell     

To sum up, Westerville is a peaceful city that offers all the modern-day urban amenities amidst an incredibly charming small-town setting. With more than three dozen parks, exceptional educational facilities, and very high safety standards, Westerville is an ideal place to call home.