Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Cincinnati
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($192,000 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($893 vs $1,627)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $26,185/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 5.4%)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $26,185 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cincinnati
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$226k less
$192,000 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$26,185
$75,376 vs $49,191/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 182,673 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Cincinnati wins 10 and Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $417,600 median home), income ($49,191 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 933 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.