Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 13 of 22 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Fullerton
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $599k less ($192,000 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $1096/mo less ($893 vs $1,989)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $50,088/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
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,088 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 41°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$599k less
$192,000 vs $791,000
Fullerton
Median Income
$50,088
$99,279 vs $49,191/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
46% lower
455.3 vs 845.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 142,280 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 13 of 22 categories. Cincinnati wins 9 and Fullerton 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $791,000 median home), income ($49,191 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Fullerton, CA are about 1,880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.