Welcome to Monday, Columbus.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Kevin Chase!

✈ Programming note: Our crew is headed to Atlanta today for an Axios retreat all about writing great newsletters.

• But don't worry, we'll remain in your inboxes all week!

Today's newsletter is 792 words — a 3-minute read.

It's significantly cheaper to rent in Columbus than to pay a mortgage, and our typical rent isn't increasing as fast as some comparable cities, per new data.

Why it matters: For decades, it's been commonly accepted that it's more financially responsible to buy than rent — the math is getting fuzzier.

Driving the news: Zillow's new Rental Market Report details the company's Observed Rent Index and typical new buyer monthly payments, including taxes and insurance, in 50 of the largest U.S. metros.

• In every city, typical rent is much less than typical homeowner payments — usually by thousands and often by double or more.

Zoom in: A typical Columbus renter is paying $1,521 per month, up just 2.6% year over year, while an average homeowner is paying $2,759 per month.

• That's an annual difference of nearly $15,000.

Between the lines: The report theorizes that in some markets it may be a smarter strategy to invest that savings and grow wealth over time rather than investing in a home.

Zoom out: Rent and ownership cost differences in Columbus are dwarfed by gaps elsewhere.

• Cities like Los Angeles ($4,441), Salt Lake City ($2,640), Portland ($2,540) and Denver ($2,504) have even bigger disparities.

Increasingly expensive homeownership has led to a new proposal that would give first-time homebuyers as much as $50,000 for a down payment on a house.

Why it matters: It's a big number and comes as the real estate market is beset by multiple woes, including rising mortgage rates pricing buyers out of the market.

The latest: Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, both Oregon Democrats, introduced the draft bill last week.

Zoom out: Congress passed a landmark bipartisan housing bill earlier this year. But that law came with no dollars attached and was mostly focused on encouraging more home building.

Reality check: While this bill likely won't go anywhere in a Republican-controlled Senate and House, it is a hint at where Democrats might be moving if they regain control of Congress after the midterms.

• And housing has proven a popular cause for both parties.

How it works: The Homeownership Promise Act would give any eligible first-time homebuyer who saves money for a down payment and meets some other requirements a 5-to-1 federal match.

Zoom in: For each dollar a person saves, the federal government would contribute $5 up to a total limit of $50,000. So someone who saves $10,000 would have a total of $60,000 for a down payment.

• Employers and nonprofits can also make contributions on an individual's behalf — but that money would not be matched.
• There's no income limit on getting the match. But buyers would be limited to homes that are priced at or below the median home in their area.
• They would have to save the money at participating financial institutions certified by the Treasury Department as a Community Development Financial Institution, like a community development bank or credit union. These institutions focus on serving lower-income customers, typically in underserved communities.

📷 Flock cameras at Denison University incorrectly associated a student with a stolen vehicle case in New York, leading classmates to question why the cameras are on campus. (Denisonian)

🏀 Even small Otterbein University in NCAA's Division III is getting into sports broadcasting, as a new partnership with FloSports requires the Cardinals to livestream all home sporting events. (T&C Media)

📣 OSU students protested a university partnership with weapons manufacturer Anduril and defied a campus ban against chalked messages. (Lantern)

🎺 Revisit the TBDBITL halftime shows from earlier this season on YouTube. (America 250 … the wild west)

The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium is gearing up to celebrate its 100th anniversary throughout 2027.

Flashback: It all started as a reindeer Christmas display a century ago, and now the world-famous zoo spans nearly 600 acres in Powell with hundreds of animal species.

The intrigue: Along with festivities, the zoo is also planning a 2027 groundbreaking for its project to build Ohio's largest aquarium.

Mark your calendars:

💡 Jan. 1-3: The tail end of this Wildlights season will feature a "Centennial-themed light spectacular" at Conservation Lake.

✨ May 22: The RendeZOO fundraiser returns with themes spanning 100 years of zoo history.

🎉 Sept. 17-19: "Centennial Celebration Weekend" includes a Friday gala and yet-to-be-announced special merch and experiences.

Thanks to Tyler Buchanan for editing today's newsletter.

Our picks:

📴 Alissa is off.

🍿 Andrew had a lot of fun at "Resident Evil."

🐻 Tyler is reading about the return of Fat Bear Week.