📈 Apartment costs soar

Just as local home prices continue to skyrocket, the average costs of one- and two-bedroom apartments in Columbus rose sharply in 2021.

State of play: High demand is pushing apartment prices higher in most U.S. cities and states.

• Last December's 97.5% U.S. occupancy rate was the highest ever recorded.

Yes, but: Rental prices here are still lower than national averages, according to the most recent data from housing site Rent.com.

By the numbers: Ohio rents are a whopping 37-43% lower than the national averages.

• Though pricier than most of the rest of the state, Columbus ranks just 55th among major U.S. cities in rental costs.