Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Cleveland, OH
🏆 Cincinnati leads 13 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870
Cleveland
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
46% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (6.9%)
Households earn $11,920 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 35°F
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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($87,400 vs $192,000)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Cincinnati
Cons
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cincinnati by $11,920/yr
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Income
$11,920
$49,191 vs $37,271/yr
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
46% lower
845.6 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Cincinnati
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
6.9% vs 11.9% unemployment
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 80.7°F
Cleveland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$105k less
$87,400 vs $192,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Cleveland, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $87,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 | $851 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 ✓ Higher | $37,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer | 331⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 411⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 211⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Cleveland Municipal |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 63.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 370,365 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Cleveland's 88.4 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 13 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 13 and Cleveland wins 10. 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 Cincinnati to Cleveland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $87,400 median home), income ($49,191 vs $37,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Cleveland, OH are about 220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.