If you’re home shopping in Central Ohio, start with the school district map—not the city name. In our market, district lines crisscross cities and zip codes, and they drive demand, price, and days on market. I help buyers make smart, data-backed moves across Dublin, Powell, Lewis Center, Westerville, Delaware, Worthington, and new-build hot spots like Evans Farm.

1) District lines ≠ city limits (and that matters for price)

Dublin, Worthington, Westerville, and Olentangy all spill across municipal borders. Example: much of Powell and Lewis Center feed into Olentangy, while parts of Dublin sit in Columbus or Hilliard schools. Translation: the same street can have very different buyer pools—and pricing power—depending on the boundary. I overlay your search with live boundary maps so you don’t miss a hidden-in-plain-sight match.

2) How districts shape price per square foot

Districts with top test scores, modern facilities, and strong extracurriculars typically command a premium, especially in turnkey 3–4 bedroom homes with finished basements. In Dublin and Olentangy (Powell/Lewis Center/portions of Delaware), expect tight competition for updated homes near elementary clusters and walkable amenities; in Worthington and Westerville, renovated mid-century and 90s builds near parks and Uptown hubs often move first. I’ll show you where the premium is justified—and where it isn’t.

3) New builds vs. established neighborhoods

Evans Farm (Olentangy) offers fresh floor plans, energy efficiency, and community design that photographs like a magazine—great for long-term resale. Established pockets in Worthington and Westerville trade on canopy streets, mature lots, and shorter commutes. We’ll compare HOA rules, likely tax trajectories, and realistic appreciation paths so you buy the lifestyle and the numbers.

4) Commute + lifestyle calculus (don’t ignore this)

A+ district but C-grade lifestyle fit is a regret recipe. Dublin’s paths/parks network, Westerville’s Uptown charm, Worthington’s village feel, and Lewis Center’s Polaris access each pull a different kind of buyer. We’ll stress-test your daily routine (schools, practice fields, I-270/315/23) against real listings so your “perfect house” also works Monday at 7:30 a.m.

5) My unfair-advantage process

I build a side-by-side for your top districts (Dublin, Olentangy, Westerville, Worthington): active vs. pending, median PPSF, typical inspection findings by era, likely appraisal hot zones, and neighborhood-level comps. Then we use that intel to write offers that win—without overpaying. If a district premium isn’t earning its keep, I’ll say it.

Note: “Best” schools are subjective. I’ll point you to third-party resources and encourage your own due diligence (tours, programs, report cards). I focus on market behavior and resale outcomes so your decision is confident and compliant.

Ready to compare Dublin, Olentangy (Powell/Lewis Center/Delaware), Westerville, and Worthington the smart way? I’ll build your custom district vs. value playbook.

[Contact Patrick Murphy, REALTOR® — Columbus, Powell & Dublin Expert]