Columbus, Ohio · The Honest Comparison
Total Cost of Ownership: Every Columbus 55+ Community
Property tax + HOA + insurance, modeled the same way for every community we cover. The number directory sites never put in one place — what each community actually costs to carry.
Below is every Columbus-area active-adult community we cover, sorted roughly from lowest to highest carrying cost. “All-in monthly” combines property tax, HOA or association fee, and homeowners insurance — it excludes mortgage and utilities. “10-year” carries those forward with modest escalation. These are planning estimates to compare communities on a level field, not quotes.
The pattern to notice: county does as much work as price. Delaware County communities (Powell, Lewis Center, Delaware) carry heavier than Franklin County communities at the same price, because of the higher tax rate. And the affordable attached/resale communities carry far less than the new detached ranches — but their association fees are a larger share of the total. Price alone never tells the story.
| Community | Area | County | Est. price | All-in/mo | 10-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enchanted Acres | Columbus | Franklin | $210k | Varies* | Varies* |
| Village at North Falls | Westerville | Franklin | $275k | ~$780 | ~$108k |
| Villas at Maple Creek | Westerville | Franklin | $280k | ~$804 | ~$110k |
| Trotters Chase | Dublin | Franklin | $280k | ~$790 | ~$109k |
| Villas of Gahanna | Gahanna | Franklin | $285k | ~$826 | ~$113k |
| Harris Farm (carriage) | Grove City | Franklin | $360k | ~$867 | ~$119k |
| Courtyards at Beulah Park | Grove City | Franklin | $425k | ~$990 | ~$135k |
| Courtyards at Mulberry Run | Grove City | Franklin | $410k | ~$952 | ~$131k |
| Browns Farm | Grove City | Franklin | $415k | ~$954 | ~$132k |
| Woodside at Holton Run | Delaware | Delaware | $425k | ~$1,035 | ~$142k |
| Courtyards at Price Farms | Delaware | Delaware | $430k | ~$1,048 | ~$144k |
| Courtyards at Clear Creek | Delaware | Delaware | $430k | ~$1,050 | ~$144k |
| Courtyards at River Bluff | Delaware | Delaware | $435k | ~$1,056 | ~$145k |
| Courtyards at Carr Farms | Hilliard | Franklin | $460k | ~$1,038 | ~$142k |
| Nottingham Trace | New Albany area | Franklin | $460k | ~$1,038 | ~$142k |
| Courtyards of Hyatts Crossing | Powell | Delaware | $440k | ~$1,090 | ~$150k |
| Courtyards at Haines Creek | New Albany | Franklin | $490k | ~$1,127 | ~$155k |
| Courtyards at New Albany | New Albany | Franklin | $490k | ~$1,127 | ~$155k |
| Retreat at Dustin (resale) | Galena | Delaware | $470k | ~$1,130 | ~$155k |
| Courtyards of Glenshire | Granville | Licking | $460k | ~$1,095 | ~$150k |
| Courtyards on Riverside | Dublin | Franklin | $500k | ~$1,115 | ~$153k |
| Del Webb Maygrass | Plain City | Union/Madison | $440k | ~$1,145 | ~$157k |
| Estates at Tremont Club (gated) | UA area | Franklin | $510k | ~$1,213 | ~$166k |
| Courtyards of Hyland Meadows | Jerome Village | Union | $480k | ~$1,220 | ~$168k |
| Courtyards at Evans Farm | Lewis Center | Delaware | $480k | ~$1,230 | ~$169k |
| Courtyards at Hidden Ravines (gated) | Dublin area | Franklin | $500k | ~$1,240 | ~$170k |
| Courtyards on Big Walnut | Westerville area | Franklin/Del | $440k | ~$1,035 | ~$142k |
| Retreat at Woodcrest Crossing | Powell | Delaware | $525k | ~$1,271 | ~$174k |
| Courtyards of Hyatts Village | Powell | Delaware | $540k | ~$1,275 | ~$175k |
*Enchanted Acres cost depends on whether it is fee-simple or land-lease — see its profile. Maygrass spans the Union/Madison county line in Plain City; confirm the parcel.
How to read this for your decision
Start with the all-in monthly, not the price. Two communities a hundred thousand dollars apart in price can carry within $100/month of each other once tax and fees are included — and two communities at the same price can differ by $200+/month across the county line. Then layer in the 65+ homestead exemption if you qualify, which trims the tax line on any of these. Finally, weigh the lifestyle: gated, walkable, golf-adjacent, or affordable-and-convenient. The table levels the money so you can choose on what actually matters to you.
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Get my comparisonAll figures are planning estimates that vary by parcel, district, home price, and reappraisal cycle, and change over time. Confirm current numbers before deciding. This is general information, not tax or financial advice.