Report finds more newcomers moving to Columbus, home prices rising
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recent report found more Americans are moving to the heartland states, causing home prices to increase in some of the region’s cities, including Columbus.
An April analysis by Realtor.com found that the heartland states, which refers to the central portion of the country encompassing the Midwest and parts of the South, are having a post-pandemic revival, thanks to newcomers moving in from the nation’s major cities.
An estimated 39% of the country’s population lived in the heartland region in 2024, a 2.65% jump from 2020. By comparison, the rest of the United States grew by 2.59%, U.S. Census Bureau data shows. This marks the first time since 1959 that the heartland’s population gains exceeded the national average.
The report specifically found five cities in the heartland states, including Columbus; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Indianapolis; Nashville, Tennessee; and Austin, Texas, are seeing considerable growth. The metros have been drawing in new residents, specifically young professionals looking for “well-paying” jobs in tech, manufacturing, healthcare and financial services, as well as families looking for affordable housing, the website said.
As a result, the median home prices in the heartland hubs have seen increases in home prices from 2019 to 2025, ranging from 17% to 47%, according to the report. The national average in this time frame was 39%. Columbus saw a “modest” uptick of 26% across the five-year period, with the median home price rising from $285,671 to $360,000.
"While the year-over-year median listing price growth in Columbus, OH in March 2025 was 26%, falling below the national average of 39%, the median list price per square foot -- which accounts for changes in home size -- was 59% higher than six years ago, compared to 55% nationally," Realtor.com Senior Economist Jiyai Xu said in a statement. "This points to stronger-than-average housing demand in the area over the longer term. "
Columbus has been getting the most attention from out-of-market home shoppers in Washington, D.C., with residents making up 24.4% of viewers on Realtor.com, followed by New Yorkers (10%) and Cleveland locals (7%).
The report named Louisville, Kentucky, and Detroit as other heartland “boomtowns” to watch, with both having views per property exceeding the national average on Realtor.com over the past year.