NAICS 51

Information in Columbus, IN

Metro Market Score 25.2 (Favorable), ranked #37 of 294 metros. 25 establishments, 236 jobs.

Metro Market Score 25.2

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

✓Favorable Market

Information wages in Columbus run well below the metro average (competitiveness index: 2.0), and year-over-year wage pressure is low at 19.5. For labor-intensive operations, this cost advantage could improve unit economics significantly.

Industry Concentration

10.5

LQ: 0.25

Rank #31 of 294 metros

Wage Competitiveness

2.0

$46,972 avg wage

Growth Trend

↓ 39.5

Employment growth index

Rank #179 of 294 metros

Wage Pressure

19.5

YoY wage change index

25 Information Firms in Columbus

Establishments

+4.2% YoY

236

Total Employment

-3.7% YoY

$46,972

Average Annual Wage

+2.3% YoY

0.25

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within Indiana

#3 of 8

information metros in state

Indiana state rank

#19 of 51

for information entry risk

vs State Median

-7.1

better than median (32.3)

Columbus vs Indiana Statewide

How this metro's information market compares to Indiana overall. The state ranks #19/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Columbus	IN Statewide
Overall Score	25.2 Favorable	40.2 Moderate
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#37 of 294 metros	#19 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Columbus

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 12.6 Other Services 24.5 Retail Trade 24.9 Finance and Insurance 30.6 Healthcare and Social Assistance 32.0 Construction 40.4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 53.0 Accommodation and Food Services 53.8 Administrative and Support Services 58.0

Information in Other Indiana Metros

Elkhart-Goshen 17.4 #14/294 Muncie 20.7 #25/294 Kokomo 27.0 #47/294 Michigan City-La Porte 32.3 #73/294 Evansville 36.9 #97/294 South Bend-Mishawaka 41.5 #125/294 Fort Wayne 49.6 #188/294

Information Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Columbus's 25.2 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Kenosha, WI 25.4 #38/294 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ 24.8 #36/294 Sherman-Denison, TX 24.7 #35/294 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 25.9 #39/294 Enid, OK 25.9 #40/294 Logan, UT 24.3 #34/294 Laredo, TX 26.2 #41/294 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX 24.0 #33/294 Chambersburg, PA 26.7 #42/294 Vallejo, CA 26.8 #43/294

Information in States Bordering Indiana

State-level entry risk for information in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Kentucky 32.6 #6/51 Ohio 44.4 #26/51 Michigan 47.2 #32/51 Illinois 48.5 #38/51

Browse Information in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for information across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Columbus's information sector, the employment growth component (60.5) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Columbus, IN MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment