Two Delaware County communities have been recognized among the best suburban areas in the United States.
In fact, Ohio suburbs dominated the Business Insider list of the Top 50 Best Suburbs in America. Eight cities in the Buckeye State made the list, including Powell and Dublin. Powell ranked 12th on the list, while Dublin checked in at No. 16.
Central Ohio neighbor New Albany topped the charts at No. 1. Other Buckeye State cities to make the list included Indian Hill (8th), Wyoming (25th), Upper Arlington (26th), Hudson (33rd) and Bexley (35th).
“The listing highlights the dynamic nature of Delaware County and our thriving communities,” said Bob Lamb, Delaware County economic development director. “Powell and Dublin are both amazing communities to call home. One of the key strengths of Delaware County is the multitude of great communities that people can choose to live, work or play.
“This type of publicity helps to further enhance the county’s image as an unparalleled community for raising a family and/or opening a business,” Lamb added. “It helps to let people know who are looking to relocate in central Ohio that they can join a community that is focused on their needs and meeting the demands of tomorrow.”
According to the Business Insider summary, Powell boasts a median household income of $132,598. The city is tied with New Albany for the lowest poverty rate in Ohio at 1.2 percent. Powell area schools received a perfect score of 10.
“This award speaks volumes about the quality of life in Powell,” said City Manager Steve Lutz. “We are protected by an accredited police department and home to the highly rated Olentangy Local School District. The city offers more than 200 parks and recreation camps and programs, several special events throughout the year and top-rated services to the community. Powell is a great place to live.”
Dublin’s median household income is listed at $113,182. The city received high marks for education, high quality of life and low cost of living.
Delaware County Commission President Gary Merrell said the high rankings for central Ohio communities is a source of pride for the entire region.
“There’s things that make every one of our cities and our counties unique in the scheme of the whole metro area,” he said. “It adds vitality to our area, the fact that we’re all kind of woven together. We all bring different things to the table that makes this a very special place to live.”
Merrell, who first moved to Delaware County in 1986, said the growth that he’s witnessed in the region has been amazing.
“It’s changed dramatically and, for the most part, for the better,” he noted. “Some people don’t like to see the growth commercially, but the reality is, for the most part, growth has been managed very well in this area — Delaware, Dublin, Powell, the whole area. In Delaware County, in particular, we have a great mix of good builders building very good homes and really great schools.”
Business Insider examined data for 2,754 municipalities across the U.S. for the list. Criteria considered included average commute times, median household income, poverty and crime rates, public-school ratings from www.GreatSchools.org, and a measure of housing affordability.
