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Columbus Districts
Columbus City Council

District Three

District 3 of 9 · University District & Short North

District Three encompasses the University District around Ohio State University, the Short North Arts District, Victorian Village, and extends north toward Worthington and west toward the Upper Arlington border. Its income and poverty levels are close to the city average, and it has a large student population that shapes its demographic profile.

Where District Three sits in Columbus ▲ N

District Three Other districts (hover)
Boundaries from CivicWorth · official 2023 council map
95,375
Population (ACS)
100,914
2020 Census
6
Neighborhoods
99
Block groups
63
Voting precincts
3
Area commissions
01

Your representation

Council Member
Rob Dorans
First elected 2023

Committee assignments

Zoning — ChairWorkforce, Education & Labor — ChairRules & Policy — Vice ChairFinance & Governance — Vice Chair
First elected
2023
Term ends
2029
Next election
2029
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The neighborhoods

University DistrictShort NorthVictorian VillageHarrison WestItalian Village (partial)Worthington (partial)

Points of interest

  • Short North Arts District — Nationally recognized arts and entertainment corridor along High Street with galleries, restaurants, and boutiques.
  • Wexner Center for the Arts — Ohio State University's multidisciplinary contemporary arts center with free gallery admission.
  • Goodale Park — Columbus's oldest park, with playground, tennis courts, basketball court, and pond in Victorian Village.
  • Columbus Museum of Art — The Pizzuti — Short North satellite gallery featuring contemporary art exhibitions and the Caribbean-inspired Bar Room.
  • Newport Music Hall — America's longest continuously running rock club, located near the Ohio State campus on High Street.
  • Ohio State University Campus — Main campus of the state's flagship public university, one of the largest in the nation by enrollment.

Area commissions

The most local level of civic input — they review zoning cases and advise Council. Meetings are open to the public.

Third Wednesday of each month, 6:30 PM · Northwood & High Building, 2231 N. High St.
03

Who lives here

● ACS 2019–2023 5-Year How District Three changed since 2017–21, and how it compares to Columbus as a whole
95,375
Population
0.5% since 2017–21
$74,303
Median income
7.9% since 2017–21
$1,250
Median rent
11.8% since 2017–21
$318,836
Median home value
24.3% since 2017–21
4.9%
Unemployment
0.3 pts since 2017–21

Compared to Columbus

Where District Three ranks among all nine districts. The dot is District Three; the line marks the citywide average.

Median income
$74,303
#5 of 9
+1% vs. city · Esri $60,413
$54,572$94,855
Median rent
$1,250
#6 of 9
−2% vs. city · Esri $932
$1,104$1,469
Median home value
$318,836
#2 of 9
+29% vs. city · Esri $262,095
$163k$352k
Unemployment
4.9%
6th lowest
0.3 pts below city · Esri 4.0%
2.9%8.9%
District Three Columbus averageBar spans lowest–highest of the 9 districts

Race & ethnicity

Share of residents · District Three bar, Columbus average tick · ACS 2019–2023
NH White 75.3%
NH Black 5.7%
Hispanic 4.5%
NH Asian 9.9%
Other 4.6%
Columbus average · scale 0–65%

Households

District Three · ACS 2019–2023
Total households40,232
Family HH35.5%

Household counts are ACS 5-year estimates aggregated from the district's block groups. The tick marks the citywide family-household share.

About these figures. District totals are aggregated from census block groups. Median income, rent, and home value are population-weighted averages of block-group medians — approximations, not true district medians — so the citywide comparison shows relative standing, not exact dollars. ACS is a 5-year backward average; Esri current-year estimates are forward projections. See full methodology →

04

Public safety

How reported crime in District Three compares to the Columbus average, by category. Bars to the left are below the citywide average; bars to the right are above.

← safer than city   |   Columbus average   |   higher than city →
Total crime +20%
Personal crime +8%
Murder −47%
Rape +6%
Robbery +44%
Assault −29%
Property crime +21%
Burglary +7%
Larceny +20%
Motor vehicle theft +55%

Source: Applied Geographic Solutions CrimeRisk. Figures are percentage differences from the citywide average.

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Get involved in District Three

Attend an area commission

Area commissions meet monthly and take public comment on zoning and development in your neighborhood.

Find meeting times →

Contact Council Member Dorans

Reach the District 3 office directly with questions, concerns, or support for constituents.

Send a message →

Vote on the 2026 measure

This November, Columbus voters decide whether to change how council is elected. Understand what's on your ballot.

Read the ballot explainer →
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Suggest an edit

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