Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Austin leads 17 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Cincinnati
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $37,365 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($192,000 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $656/mo less ($893 vs $1,549)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $37,365/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 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$37,365
$86,556 vs $49,191/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
45% lower
466.9 vs 845.6 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 86.6°F
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$270k less
$192,000 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 16.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 308,870 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin'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, Austin leads 17 of 23 categories. Austin wins 17 and Cincinnati wins 6. 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 Austin to Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $192,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Cincinnati, OH are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.