COLUMBUS — Columbus has been named one of the best cities in America to live for people with disabilities, landing third in a new WalletHub study released ahead of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.
WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 33 disability-friendliness indicators, including wheelchair-accessible facilities per capita, the rate of workers with disabilities, and the quality of local hospital systems. The study cited Columbus’s high number of medical professionals as the leading factor in its top-three finish. The city also had the 36th-most occupational therapists nationally and the 11th-lowest average monthly health insurance premium, along with the 13th-highest number of special education teachers per 1,000 residents with a disability.
Nearly 25 percent of Columbus homes are wheelchair-accessible — the 14th-highest share in the country — and the city had the 25th-lowest homelessness rate for people with disabilities, the report found. “More than one in four U.S. adults live with a disability, so it’s extremely important for cities to prioritize becoming a safe, welcoming and affordable place for this demographic,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, noting the best cities combine accessible facilities, quality medical care, and an affordable cost of living for people on fixed incomes.
Other Ohio cities trailed far behind Columbus in the rankings: Cleveland placed 72nd, Akron 74th, Cincinnati 79th, and Toledo 84th. Cleveland scored well on quality of life, ranking eighth nationally in that category, but lagged on economy and health care measures.
