Hilliard, OH
What Hilliard is actually like
Hilliard traces its start to 1852, when John Reed Hilliard bought roughly 10 acres of farmland along a new railroad line in western Franklin County; he platted the settlement on September 1, 1853, first known as Hilliard's Station before the name was shortened in 1854 (Wikipedia). The village incorporated on July 13, 1869, with 280 residents (Wikipedia).
Hilliard didn't reach city status until December 12, 1960, at a population of 5,633 — the real growth came afterward, as Interstate 270 opened a direct route into Columbus and the Hilliard City School District expanded to cover subdivisions built across the west side. The district now operates 14 elementary schools, two sixth-grade buildings, three middle schools and three high schools, with an attendance area that stretches into parts of neighboring Dublin and Galloway (Wikipedia).
The city now covers 14.45 square miles between Big Darby Creek to the west and the Scioto River to the east, with the U.S. Census Bureau putting the population at 38,898 as of July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau).
Home values in Hilliard
The typical Hilliard home was worth $391,812 as of June 2026, up 0.8% over the prior year, per the Zillow Home Value Index.
Getting around
Hilliard is built for driving — subdivisions off Cemetery Road, Scioto Darby Road and Roberts Road connect to arterial roads rather than a walkable grid, and a car is close to essential for daily errands, though COTA's new direct line to OSU and downtown gives commuters a transit option that didn't exist before September 2026.
Hilliard FAQ
Is Hilliard, Ohio a good place to live?
Hilliard pairs a large, well-established school district with direct highway access to Columbus; the tradeoff is a car-dependent layout with a Walk Score around 22 and a mid-2026 typical home value near $392,000.
What county is Hilliard, Ohio in?
Hilliard is entirely within Franklin County, on the county's west side between Big Darby Creek and the Scioto River.
What school district serves Hilliard, Ohio?
Hilliard City Schools, which operates 14 elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools, including buildings that also serve nearby Dublin and Galloway addresses.
Does Hilliard, Ohio have COTA bus service?
Yes — COTA's Route 21 and Route 71 serve Hilliard, and a new Line 30 launched September 7, 2026 runs every 30 minutes between Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Ohio State and downtown Columbus with no transfer required.
How far is Hilliard from downtown Columbus?
About 12 miles via I-270 and US-33/SR-161, roughly a 20-25 minute drive without heavy traffic.
Nearby alternatives*We're not ranking these — every place has real trade-offs, and which ones matter is up to you.
Dublin
Dublin borders Hilliard to the north and shares the same I-270 corridor, with generally higher home values.
Upper Arlington
Upper Arlington sits just east of Hilliard along the Scioto River with an older, more walkable street grid.
Grove City
Grove City is Franklin County's other large west-side suburb, on the south side of I-270 rather than the northwest.
See what makes Columbus stand out — verified, named medical, dietary, sports, and other specialty resources you won't find in most metros.
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