Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Cincinnati leads 14 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674
Cincinnati
Ohio
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $46,540 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 87°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($192,000 vs $363,800)
Rent averages $512/mo less ($893 vs $1,405)
17% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 21°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $46,540/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$46,540
$95,731 vs $49,191/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
17% lower
845.6 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$172k less
$192,000 vs $363,800
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 16.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 | 308,870 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 14 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 9 and Cincinnati wins 14. 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 Anchorage to Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $192,000 median home), income ($95,731 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Cincinnati, OH are about 3,080 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.