Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Columbia leads 14 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Columbia
South Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
136,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $212/mo less ($893 vs $1,105)
Homes cost $34k less ($192,000 vs $226,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°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
Median income trails Columbia by $4,904/yr
Columbia, SC
Pros
9% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 41°F
Households earn $4,904 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$34k less
$192,000 vs $226,200
Cincinnati
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Columbia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$4,904
$54,095 vs $49,191/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
9% lower
769.9 vs 845.6 per 100k
Columbia
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $226,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,105 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $54,095 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 136,754 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 14 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 9 and Columbia 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 Cincinnati to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $226,200 median home), income ($49,191 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Columbia, SC are about 405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.