As Columbus' economy booms, here's the biggest thing central Ohioans are worried about
As the Columbus region grows, a new survey shows one pressing concern remains on the minds of most central Ohioans —housing affordability.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, which includes 15 Columbus area counties, surveyed residents on economic development and found that most are worried about home prices as the area continues to boom.
At least 73% of residents surveyed said housing costs were too high, MORPC found. At the same time 31% said a lack of housing options locally was a major contributing factor.
Read More: 'House hacking' is Gen Z's new approach to home buying: What is it?
More than half of residents, or 51%, said that increasing affordable housing supply would be the most impactful economic development strategy, even more so than attracting businesses or providing businesses support, according to MORPC.
'As Central Ohio continues its rapid growth, we have a choice in how we shape our future,' MORPC Executive Director William Murdock said in a press release. 'Success won't be measured by growth alone, but by how well we expand opportunities for housing, transportation and economic prosperity."
Among other topics included in the survey were questions about job opportunities, childcare and infrastructure.
At 54%, more than half of those surveyed felt optimistic about central Ohio's job outlook. In 2022, semiconductor maker Intel announced it would open at least two factories in New Albany and just this year drone maker Anduril announced it would open a campus near Rickenbacker International Airport and bring 4,000 jobs to the region.
Despite those developments, 36% of surveyed residents said they were concerned about a lack of high paying jobs and 26% thought there was an overall shortage of jobs in the region, according to MORPC.
Childcare remains a chief barrier to central Ohio residents entering the workforce, with 27% of survey respondents ranking it as among their top three economic concerns. Of the surveyed residents with children, 20% said they had to sacrifice child care to afford housing, MORPC found.
The survey also found residents strongly support infrastructure and utility upgrades, with 66% responding that they are needed to sustain the region's growth. But, just 42% said the support raising taxes to fund such efforts, according to MORPC.
Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby@dispatch.com. Find him on X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: In Columbus, home prices are still a big problem, central Ohioans say
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