Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Alexandria leads 16 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Cincinnati
Ohio
7
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $63,988 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Cincinnati
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $464k less ($192,000 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $1090/mo less ($893 vs $1,983)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $63,988/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$63,988
$113,179 vs $49,191/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
74% lower
219.1 vs 845.6 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.6°F
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$464k less
$192,000 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 16.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 308,870 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 16 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 16 and Cincinnati wins 7. 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 Alexandria to Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $192,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Cincinnati, OH are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.