One of the happiest places in Ohio.The best suburb in the Columbus Metropolitan area. The best place to live in Ohio. All of these accolades have been assigned to Upper Arlington over the years, and it's not hard to see why.
With its historic buildings and the strong sense of community, Upper Arlington is truly unique among Columbus' suburbs. No to mention that when you call Upper Arlington home, you get an excellent school system, gorgeous parks, great shopping, and low crime rates. Honestly, does it get any better than that?
Source:wikimedia.org
Upper Arlington was home to 33,771 residents when the 2010 U.S. Census was conducted. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the population in the Columbus suburb has reached about 34,609, a 2.48 percent increase. The area is largely made up of families. At the time of the last census, 68.9 percent of households were made up of families, and 32.6 percent were households with children.
Upper Arlington is known for having what's known as a "bottleneck" population pyramid — a large number of children younger than 18, few young adults, and a larger portion of older adults. The median age for the area is 42, according to AreaVibes.com. To compare, the median age of Ohio residents is 38 while the national average is around 37.
Given its affluent status among Columbus neighborhoods, it should be no surprise to learn that Upper Arlington has a higher cost of living than its fellow suburbs. The cost of living in Upper Arlington is 22 percent higher than the Ohio average, and 11 percent higher than the national average, according to data from AreaVibes. Additionally, the cost of housing in the area is roughly 52 percent higher than the national average. In 2013, City-Data.com recorded the average home price in Upper Arlington as $330,114.
The population in Upper Arlington is a highly educated one. For those age 25 and older, 99.4 percent have completed high school or higher, 75.1 percent have completed a bachelor's degree or higher, and 33.5 percent have earned a graduate or professional degree, according to City-Data.com. AreaVibes notes the median household income in the area is $95,588, and the unemployment rate is very low at just 2.7 percent.
Source:wikimedia.org
In 1913, brothers King and Ben Thompson purchased the 840 acres of farmland that would serve as the foundation of Upper Arlington. The Thompsons were inspired by the Country Club development in Kansas City to create an idealistic residential community. In fact, they were so enamored with the Country Club development that they initially wanted to name the city the "Country Club District." But eventually, they settled on Upper Arlington, a nod to its neighbor Arlington, which is now Marble Cliff.
During the design of the city, the Thompson brothers hired landscape architect William Pitkin Jr., who encouraged the creation of curving streets that followed the land and featured numerous trees rather than the grid-like structure that made up Columbus. This unique plan is what gives Upper Arlington its unique appearance, which sometimes feels more a giant park than a city.
But it's this open-air, park-like atmosphere that gives Upper Arlington its personality, and it's what has drawn so many people to the northwest corner of Columbus. And what they have created there is a beautiful home rooted in family, community and tradition.
Thanks to the population's strong sense of togetherness, community events are frequent in the area. Summer concerts, arts festivals, movies in the park, all of these are the norm in Upper Arlington, and they are events the residents take much enjoyment and pride in. In fact, the city's Fourth of July parade and festival is actually organized and led solely by the city's residents.
There is no shortage of amenities in this community. AreaVibes gave Upper Arlington a livability score of 85 out of 100, ranking the city as the fifth best overall in Ohio and 185 in the country. The score takes into account the number of local amenities, crime rate, graduation rate, employment rate, and the cost of living, among other factors.
When it comes to finding things to do in Upper Arlington, the possibilities are nearly endless. For starters, the city is home to 28 beautiful parks that span 180 acres in total, including the AmelitaMirolo Barn, which is home to the Music in the Park series. Residents can also view stunning works of art while strolling through the city thanks to the Art in Community Places initiative, or enjoy the traditional gallery experience at the Concourse Gallery.
There's also the Reed Road Water Park, and the Historic Home District to explore. And for the sports-inclined, Upper Arlington isn't far from the home of the Columbus Bluejackets, Columbus Clippers, or Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Shopaholics will be pleased, too, to find that Upper Arlington is home to several shopping districts. The Shops on Lane Avenue is a favorite spot for residents. The open-air market boasts 30 national and local retailers, including Whole Foods Market, Pier 1 Imports, Bed Bath & Beyond, White House Black Market, and more. There's also the Kingsdale Shopping Center, Tremont Center, and the historic Mallway at Old Arlington.
Safety is something you won't have to worry much about when in Upper Arlington. Neighborhood Scout rated Upper Arlington a 66 on its crime index, with 100 being the best possible score. The city's annual crime included four violent crimes (robbery) and 402 property crimes (burglary and theft). The higher number of property crimes comes with the territory, somewhat, of living in an affluent area. That being said, the chances of becoming a victim of property crime in Upper Arlington is only 1 in 86, which is better than the state average of 1 in 36.
Source:wikimedia.org
Perhaps Upper Arlington's greatest claim to fame is Jack Nicklaus, the now-retired professional golfer who called the Columbus suburb his home. Nicklaus was born in Upper Arlington in 1940 and graduated from Upper Arlington High School.
He grew up playing golf at the city's local golf course, the Scioto Country Club, starting at the ripe age of 10. Over the years, Nicklaus went on to earn numerous accolades in the golfing world and won the prestigious Master's Tournament six times. In fact, he was the first person to ever win the tournament in back-to-back years in 1965 and 1966.
The city is now home to the Jack Nicklaus Museum, a 24,000 square-foot educational and historical facility dedicated to sharing the story of Nicklaus' brilliant golfing career. The museum's displays include trophies, photographs and various mementos from Nicklaus' 20 major championships and 100 worldwide professional victories. The museum really is a must-see for any avid golf fan.
If this all sounds too good to be true, it's not. Your Upper Arlington home is within reach, you just have to know where to look for it. Movoto features hundreds of listings for homes in the Upper Arlington area for every price point. Visit Movoto.com today to find the perfect Upper Arlington home for you and your family.
