Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 15 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Huntsville
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($192,000 vs $236,300)
Rent averages $127/mo less ($893 vs $1,020)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntsville by $18,683/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 4.6%)
Huntsville, AL
Pros
43% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $18,683 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$44k less
$192,000 vs $236,300
Huntsville
Median Income
$18,683
$67,874 vs $49,191/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
43% lower
483.2 vs 845.6 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $236,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 215,025 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 15 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 8 and Huntsville wins 15. 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 Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $236,300 median home), income ($49,191 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Huntsville, AL are about 321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.