The Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) has released a report, “Ohio + Columbus: A Tale of Two States ,” which analyzes 2020 Census data to identify significant trends in the state of Ohio and make the case for data-driven polices responsive to current trends.

The report utilizes demographic and economic data to verify that Ohio is mostly a legacy state and needs policies appropriately tailored to legacy circumstance.  While Columbus is a high-growth city and metro,  much of the rest of the state exhibits the characteristics of legacy places characterized by aging populations, marginal population change, and slow income growth.  For example,

The report highlights several data points, including:

• Ohio had a population gain of 3% from 2000 to 2020 but when the Columbus metro is removed, the parts of Ohio outside the Columbus area reflect a loss of -1%, or net loss of 100,000 residents

• The state as a whole and cities and metros outside central Ohio experienced significant decreases in people under age 54

• Ohio’s median household income is lower than the national average and has not kept pace with increases nationally in the last two decades

With more than 64% of Ohioans living in a legacy city or in a metro anchored by one, GOPC argues that state policy makers should think differently about the needs and opportunities of the Columbus area versus other places in Ohio. GOPC offers tailored policy recommendations for the legacy areas of the state that:

• Protect the Fiscal Health of Ohio’s Cities

• Invest in Existing Places

• Reimage Local Zoning

• Champion Public Transit

• Reduce Risk and Encourage Production in Legacy Real Estate Market

The full report can be accessed on GOPC’s website.