New study says Columbus is third best city for people with disabilities

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A new study by WalletHub has ranked Columbus third out of 180 cities in the United States for people living with disabilities. The city's high ranking is attributed to its significant number of medical professionals.

"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. "The best cities have highly accessible public facilities and housing, high-quality medical care, and an affordable cost of living for people on a fixed income."

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The study evaluated cities based on three key dimensions: economy, quality of life, and health care. Columbus boasts the 9th-most occupational therapists and the 8th-most family medicine physicians per capita. Additionally, the city has the 11th-most special-education teachers per 1,000 residents with a disability.

When it comes to housing, nearly 25% of homes in Columbus are wheelchair-accessible, ranking the city 14th in this category. Columbus is also the 36th-cheapest city to live in and has the 13th-lowest rate of homelessness among people with disabilities.

For more details, including the full study, methodology, and data for other cities, click here.