Mount Vernon West
Is Mount Vernon West a Safe Place to Live? Housing, Crime & Buyer Guide
Explore safety, home prices, commute patterns, and neighborhood insights in Columbus, Ohio - so you can decide with confidence before buying or renting.
Most buyers only see the home. Smart buyers check the neighborhood first.
Crime Summary:
Crime Overview (last 12 months)
Severe2323
Medium2625
Low3453
Other8145
259 Registered Offenders Nearby
Rape60
Child involved77
Assault28
Other108
Crime Details:
Recent reported incidents in the past 12 months (newest first). Up to 10 records.
| Crime date | Crime description | Address | Crime category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency medical services responded to a report of abdominal pain near Airport Drive and Cassidy Avenue, at a hotel location. | Airport Dr, Columbus, OH 43219 | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, eMS dispatched to a location near Airport Drive and Chase Drive for abdominal pain. Medic 20 assigned to the scene. | Airport Dr, Columbus, OH 43219 | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, eMS is dispatched to a reported hemorrhage at a location on Clinton Street near North Fourth Street, with Medic 13 responding. | Clinton St, Columbus, OH 43202 | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency medical responders were dispatched for a reported hemorrhage at a location on Clinton Street near North Fourth Street and a dead end in Columbus, Ohio. | Clinton St, Columbus, OH 43202 | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, officers responded to reports of a man in a black shirt and black shorts running in and out of traffic near East Fifth and Cleveland Avenue, reportedly approaching cars and asking for help before leaving the area. | Cleveland Ave & E 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 | Disturbance |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, there is a medical alarm at a location near North Champion Avenue, apartment number withheld, near Hawthorne Avenue and Haley Hill Drive. Dispatch one and Medic one are assigned. | N Champion Ave, Columbus, OH 43203 | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, officers are dispatched to a possible hit-skip style crash near Kennard Square involving a gray Kia, a white Toyota, and a white Volkswagen Jetta. The reporting person plans to meet officers at an apartment near East Livingston Avenue. | Kenard Ct, Whitehall, OH 43213 | Traffic |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, officers were dispatched near Lockbourne Road and Refugee Road in Columbus to check on a man walking in the roadway and approaching cars to ask for money. He was last reported walking northbound on Lockbourne Road. | Refugee Rd & Lockbourne Rd, Columbus, OH 43207 | Disturbance |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, firefighters are dispatched to a reported fire alarm at a business on South Front Street in Columbus, with an engine and ladder company responding and nearby cross streets mentioned for location. | S Front St, Columbus, OH | Fire |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, officers conducted a coordinated perimeter and search, including use of a K-9 and a drone, for at least one fleeing suspect reported hiding near houses and a camper in the area of Thomas Avenue, Union, and Central. A camper near Thomas Avenue was checked and found clear, and a witness reported seeing one person run through the area into nearby woods. | Thomas Ave, Columbus, OH 43223 | Suspicious Activity |
For all crime details - View Safety Report
Median Home Price
$404,034
Average Rent
$1,465
Vacancy Rate
19.6%
Nearby neighborhoods
Overview
Mount Vernon West is an urban neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, with a median home price of $404,034 and average rent of $1,465.
The neighborhood has a very high renter occupancy rate and a vacancy rate of 19.6%, higher than 87.1% of U.S. neighborhoods.
UrbanHigh Renter OccupancyHigh Vacancy
Quick Facts
| Vacancy Rate | 19.6% |
|---|
Housing market and real estate character
Mount Vernon West features mostly small to medium apartments and single-family homes, with a dominant renter occupancy and high vacancy rate.
| Renter Occupied Rate | 95.0% |
|---|---|
| Housing Type | Small to medium apartments and single-family homes |
| Housing Age | Built mostly 1970-1999, some 1940-1969 |
What buyers will notice right away
Nearly all housing is renter occupied, indicating a rental market focus.
Vacancy rate is high, which may indicate challenges in housing demand or occupancy.
Families & Lifestyle
Mount Vernon West has a high concentration of single mother households and faces significant poverty challenges.
Strong community diversity with many Sub-Saharan African and Welsh ancestries.
Carpooling and bus use are common, reflecting urban transit patterns.
Diverse and Urban — A linguistically and ethnically diverse neighborhood with a strong rental market and active transit use.
| Single Mother Households | Higher than 99.8% of U.S. neighborhoods |
|---|---|
| Childhood Poverty Rate | 90.4% |
Demographics
| Manufacturing & Laborer Occupations | 35.7% |
|---|---|
| Childhood Poverty Rate | 90.4% |
| English Speaking Households | 70.2% |
| Top Ancestries | Sub-Saharan African (38.2%), German (6.6%), Welsh (4.0%), Irish (2.3%), African (2.0%) |
Commute
Most residents commute 15-30 minutes, with many driving alone, carpooling, or taking the bus.
Mount Vernon West offers diverse commute options with high carpool and bus usage.
Carpool Popularity — One of the highest carpool rates nationally.
Bus Use — Significantly higher bus ridership than most neighborhoods.
| Commute 15-30 Minutes | 54.3% |
|---|---|
| Drive Alone Rate | 38.1% |
| Carpool Rate | 33.1% |
| Bus Commute Rate | 13.4% |
Homes for sale near 43203
For-sale listings in this zip code. Open a property in HoodScore to run a safety report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the renter occupancy rate?
95.0% of housing is renter occupied, among the highest in the U.S.
What are the main challenges?
High vacancy rate and very high childhood poverty rate.