Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Cincinnati leads 13 of 22 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Cincinnati
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Households earn $9,158 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Cincinnati
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
47% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $342/mo less ($893 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Baltimore by $9,158/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Income
$9,158
$58,349 vs $49,191/yr
Baltimore
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 86.6°F
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
47% lower
845.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$11k less
$192,000 vs $202,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 16.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 308,870 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 13 of 22 categories. Baltimore wins 9 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 Baltimore to Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $192,000 median home), income ($58,349 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Cincinnati, OH are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.