You’ll be hearing more about Ohio’s capital soon enough. The Midwest magnet added more than 30,000 residents in 2024, lifting the metro to 2.23 million and growing 38% faster than the U.S. average—fueled by Ohio State talent and steady in-migration. Intel’s $28-billion Ohio One campus—with first chips now moved to 2030—will ultimately field 7,000 construction workers, promising years of high-skill paydays. Tech giants are stacking servers, too: Amazon is adding another $10 billion and 1,000 jobs, while Google tacked on $2.3 billion to its three-site footprint. Life sciences heat up as Amgen’s 300,000-square-foot biomanufacturing plant came online in 2024. Downtown is building, with Phase 2 of the Scioto Peninsula rising around The Junto, the 28-story Merchant Building targeting a 2026 debut and Astor Park’s first 261 apartments underway beside the MLS Crew’s stadium. Small wonder that with such homebuilding, #18-ranked Labor Force Participation and Top 25 overall Prosperity, Columbus is #20 in our Housing Affordability subcategory. Rents may have climbed to $1,337 this year, but with 95% occupancy and median home values at $253,000 there’s still plenty of runway left. Speaking of which, a new $2-billion terminal just broke ground at the #46-ranked John Glenn International Airport.