Columbus, Ohio · Head-to-Head
Powell vs. Dublin for 55+ Buyers
Two of Central Ohio’s most prestigious suburbs — but they sit in different counties, and that one fact changes your tax bill for as long as you own. Here is the honest comparison.
Powell and Dublin are often shortlisted together: both are affluent, well-maintained, golf-and-greenery suburbs on the north/northwest side with top-rated schools and strong resale. The deciding difference for a cost-conscious 55+ buyer is not lifestyle — it is the county line between them.
Same prestige, different county, different rate. Powell is in Delaware County (Olentangy schools), with an effective rate around 1.9% — Ohio’s highest tier. Dublin is in Franklin County, at roughly 1.69%. On a $550,000 home, that difference is about $1,155 a year — roughly $13,000 over a decade — for comparably prestigious addresses.
The cost difference, same home price
| $550,000 home | Powell (Delaware) | Dublin (Franklin) |
|---|---|---|
| Effective rate | ≈1.9% | ≈1.69% |
| Annual property tax | ~$10,450 | ~$9,295 |
| 10-year property tax | ~$118,200 | ~$105,100 |
| Dublin saves | ~$1,155/yr · ~$13,100 / 10 yrs | |
Where each wins beyond tax
| Factor | Powell | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | Higher (Delaware) | Lower (Franklin) |
| Home prices | High | High (often higher) |
| Schools | Olentangy | Dublin City |
| Vibe | Leafy, golf, zoo-adjacent | Bridge Park, riverfront, dining |
| 55+ options | 2 Epcon + M/I Woodcrest | Epcon Riverside, resale, gated Hidden Ravines |
How to choose
If you love a specific Powell community and the address, the tax premium may be worth it — just budget for it knowingly. But if your shortlist is “a prestigious north/northwest suburb” in general, Dublin gives you comparable prestige and resale in the lower-tax county, which is the more cost-efficient way to get the marquee address. For pure value, neither is the answer — Grove City or Hilliard would carry far less. The 65+ homestead exemption helps in either county.
Powell or Dublin — want the side-by-side on your budget?
We will run real parcel taxes for communities in both and show the true 10-year difference.
Compare them for me