Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Cincinnati leads 13 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Cincinnati
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
3% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $5,545 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.9%)
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $237/mo less ($893 vs $1,130)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.9%)
Homes cost $21k less ($192,000 vs $213,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 33°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Albany by $5,545/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$5,545
$54,736 vs $49,191/yr
Albany
Violent Crime
3% lower
816.9 vs 845.6 per 100k
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$21k less
$192,000 vs $213,400
Cincinnati
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 16.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 308,870 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 13 of 23 categories. Albany wins 10 and Cincinnati wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $192,000 median home), income ($54,736 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Cincinnati, OH are about 609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.