Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $262k less ($192,000 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $946/mo less ($893 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $65,988/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 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $65,988 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 41°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Cincinnati
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$262k less
$192,000 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Median Income
$65,988
$115,179 vs $49,191/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
84% lower
132.2 vs 845.6 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 267,267 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 7 and Gilbert wins 16. 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 Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $454,300 median home), income ($49,191 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Gilbert, AZ are about 1,564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.