Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Columbia, MO
🏆 Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($192,000 vs $248,600)
Rent averages $104/mo less ($893 vs $997)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Columbia by $11,264/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.0%)
Columbia, MO
Pros
59% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Households earn $11,264 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$57k less
$192,000 vs $248,600
Columbia
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$11,264
$60,455 vs $49,191/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
59% lower
347.5 vs 845.6 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $248,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $997 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $60,455 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | COLUMBIA 93 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 44.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 17.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 126,172 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 48.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Columbia's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 10 and Columbia 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 Cincinnati to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $248,600 median home), income ($49,191 vs $60,455), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Columbia, MO are about 420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.