Columbus-area neighborhood guide
Photo: Lisa Hinson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Living in New Albany, Ohio
New Albany, Ohio: a brick village center, more than 80 miles of leisure trails and Rocky Fork Metro Park, about 25 minutes from Downtown Columbus.
New Albany is a planned city about 15 miles northeast of Downtown Columbus, known for its red-brick Georgian village center, white fences and more than 80 miles of paved leisure trails. It also sits beside the New Albany International Business Park, one of central Ohio’s largest employment centers.
New Albany at a glance
- Location
- About 15 miles northeast of Downtown Columbus
- City
- Its own city, mostly in Franklin County with a small part in Licking County
- Walk and Bike Scores (village center)
- 55 and 46
- Drive to Downtown
- About 25 minutes
- Drive to CMH airport
- About 20 minutes
- Drive to Easton Town Center
- About 15 minutes
- Known for
- Georgian architecture, leisure trails, Rocky Fork Metro Park and the New Albany International Business Park
- Thrive community
- Moore’s Edge (New Albany address, City of Columbus)
New Albany was founded in 1837 and stayed a small farming village for most of its history. That changed in the late 1980s, when the New Albany Company began buying land and planning a community modeled on 19th-century country towns. Architects designed the brick village center, the Georgian homes and the landscaped green spaces that give New Albany its look today.
The New Albany International Business Park followed, and it now covers about 12,000 acres with more than 60 companies and 20,000 employees, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Amgen, Amazon Web Services and Google. Just east of the city in Licking County, Intel is building its Ohio One semiconductor campus. After several delays, Intel expects the first factory to begin operating in the early 2030s.
The tradeoff is that New Albany is quiet. Nightlife is limited, and nearly every errand outside the village center requires a car. Some people find that calm is exactly the point, while others find it a little too still, especially if they are used to the Short North or Downtown.
Where is New Albany?
New Albany is its own city in northeastern Franklin County, with a small portion extending into Licking County. It borders the City of Columbus to the west, Plain Township to the north and east, and Gahanna and Jefferson Township to the south. Some neighborhoods with a New Albany mailing address, including Moore’s Edge, are within the City of Columbus. State Route 161 runs east to west through the city and links it to I-270 in a few minutes.
Drive times from the village center are approximate, outside rush hour:
- Downtown ColumbusAbout 25 min14.7 mi
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)About 20 min8.7 mi
- Easton Town CenterAbout 15 min7 mi
- Abercrombie & Fitch home officeAbout 5 min2.6 mi
Getting around
For most residents, a car is the main way to get around. The village center has a Walk Score of 55 and a Bike Score of 46, and grocery runs, commutes and trips into Columbus usually start in the driveway.
Where New Albany stands out is its leisure trails. The city maintains more than 80 miles of paved paths that connect neighborhoods, parks, the school campus, Market Square and the business park. They are built for walking, running and bike rides rather than commuting, and they make it easy to spend time outdoors.
COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) service is limited but useful for commuters. Line 35 runs hourly between the Easton Transit Center and the New Albany Park & Ride seven days a week, and Line 45 adds weekday rush-hour service within the business park. SmartRide New Albany offers a free shuttle from the transit stop to companies in the business park.
Housing in New Albany
Most of New Albany’s housing is single-family homes in planned neighborhoods, many in the Georgian style the city is known for, framed by white fences and landscaped green space. Townhomes and apartment communities add options closer to the village center and the business park.
Moore’s Edge is one of the area’s newest apartment communities, minutes from the village center and the business park. It has a New Albany address and sits within the City of Columbus.
New Albany restaurants, bars and coffee
New Albany’s food scene is smaller than Columbus’s, and most of it clusters around Market Square and Main Street in the village center. Expect neighborhood favorites and a few date-night spots rather than a long strip of new openings.
- Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink: a Cameron Mitchell restaurant on Market Street and the go-to for a nicer dinner without driving into the city.
- El Rey: a Mexican restaurant on New Albany Road West, with flowers hanging from the ceiling, colorful murals, aguachiles and a long margarita list.
- Blue Agave: home-style Mexican cooking on Johnstown Road, from sizzling fajitas to tacos and margaritas.
- Mellow Mushroom: a casual Market Street pizza spot known for stone-baked pies and a deep craft beer list.
- BrewDog New Albany: a craft beer bar and restaurant with plenty of taps and outdoor seating.
- Fox in the Snow: the village center location of the Columbus café and bakery, known for pastries made from scratch.
- Apollo Coffee: a mobile coffee trailer on Johnstown Road with a following for its original latte flavors. Updates are posted on Instagram.
Just south in Blacklick, Flanagan’s Pub has been family-owned since 1957. For a wider mix of restaurants and shopping, Easton Town Center is about 15 minutes away.
Parks and outdoors
Green space is part of New Albany’s design. The city counts more than 2,000 acres of open space, connected by the leisure trail network.
Rocky Fork Metro Park
Rocky Fork Metro Park covers 1,096 acres of woods and fields a short drive from the village center. It has more than 3 miles of walking trails, a 2.5-mile bridle trail for horseback riders, a fenced 1.8-acre dog park and an off-leash dog trail.
Bevelhymer Park
Bevelhymer Park is the hub of New Albany Parks and Recreation. The 145-acre park opened in 2001 and has 32 fields for baseball, softball, soccer, football and lacrosse, plus a paved walking trail, tennis courts, playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment. Pets are not permitted at New Albany Parks and Recreation facilities, so dog owners will want to head to Rocky Fork.
Rose Run Park and Swickard Woods
Rose Run Park is the city’s civic green, running between Market Square and the school campus, with paths that connect the village center’s shops, library and schools. Nearby, the Swickard Woods arboretum holds about 30 kinds of trees, including one more than 300 years old.
Things to do in New Albany
New Albany’s calendar is built around community traditions rather than nightlife, and most of it happens within a few blocks of Market Square.
McCoy Center and Hinson Amphitheater
The Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts hosts touring acts, local performances and the New Albany Symphony Orchestra. Nearby, the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater holds outdoor concerts and summer movie nights.
New Albany farmers markets
Healthy New Albany runs two farmers markets: an outdoor market Thursday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. at Market Square, June through August, and an indoor market from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of the month at the Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany, October through April.
Founders Day and the Walking Classic
Founders Day, held each May since 1976, brings a parade through town and a festival with rides, food vendors and a beer garden at Rose Run Park, drawing about 7,000 people. Each September, the New Albany Walking Classic takes over Market Square. Billed as North America’s largest walking-only race, it offers stroller- and wheelchair-accessible 5K and 10K courses and benefits the Healthy New Albany Food Pantry.
For a night out with friends, Captivating Worlds on New Albany Road West offers immersive escape rooms with story-driven puzzles and special effects.
For current events at Moore’s Edge and across Thrive communities, see the Thrive event calendar.
Is New Albany right for you?
New Albany works well if you want a short commute to the business park, miles of paved trail outside your door and a quieter, more orderly setting. Parks, organized sports and community events are all close to home.
If you want nightlife, a wide range of restaurants within walking distance or a daily commute Downtown without a drive, a neighborhood closer to the city may be a better fit.
Apartments near New Albany
Moore’s Edge, a Thrive Companies community at 7461 Noyce Square North, offers one- and two-bedroom apartments across six three- and four-story buildings, with a pool, fitness center, gaming room and community space. It has a New Albany address, sits within the City of Columbus and is minutes from the village center and the business park. The community is named for Intel co-founder Gordon Moore.
Frequently asked questions
Is New Albany part of Columbus?
No. New Albany is its own city with its own government and police department. Some homes and apartment communities with a New Albany mailing address, including Moore’s Edge, sit within the City of Columbus, so it is worth checking the jurisdiction for any specific address.
How far is New Albany from Downtown Columbus?
New Albany is about 15 miles northeast of Downtown Columbus, or about 25 minutes by car outside rush hour. State Route 161 connects the city to I-270 in a few minutes.
What is New Albany known for?
New Albany is known for its red-brick Georgian architecture, more than 80 miles of paved leisure trails, the New Albany International Business Park, Rocky Fork Metro Park and community traditions like Founders Day and the New Albany Walking Classic.
Is New Albany walkable?
The village center is, with a Walk Score of 55 around Market Square, and the leisure trail network makes walking and biking for recreation easy. Most errands outside the village center still require a car.
Where can I grocery shop in New Albany?
Most residents make a short drive for groceries. Distances are by road from the village center:
- Giant Eagle Market District, 5461 New Albany Rd. W.: 1.3 miles
- ALDI, 9895 Johnstown Rd.: 1.8 miles
- Target, 6030 N. Hamilton Rd.: 1.8 miles
Which school district serves a New Albany address?
School assignment follows the address, not the ZIP code. Most of the City of New Albany is served by New Albany-Plain Local Schools. Some homes and apartment communities with New Albany mailing addresses sit within the City of Columbus and are served by Columbus City Schools, including Moore’s Edge. Confirm the district for any specific address with the school district before signing a lease or buying a home.
Can I bring my dog to New Albany parks?
Not to New Albany Parks and Recreation facilities, including Bevelhymer Park, where pets are not permitted. Nearby Rocky Fork Metro Park has a fenced 1.8-acre dog park and an off-leash trail. Moore’s Edge’s pet policy is on its community page.
How much does it cost to live in New Albany?
Costs vary widely with the type of home, from large single-family houses to newer apartment communities. For current apartment pricing and availability at Moore’s Edge, visit the community page.
Explore more Columbus neighborhoods
Compare New Albany with walkable city neighborhoods closer to Downtown, from Italian Village to Franklinton.
This guide was researched from public sources, including the City of New Albany, New Albany Parks and Recreation, Metro Parks, COTA, Walk Score and the businesses listed. Drive times are rounded estimates outside rush hour. Thrive Companies follows all federal, state and local fair housing laws. Read our Fair Housing Policy.