Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Independence leads 15 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $127/mo less ($893 vs $1,020)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Independence by $8,224/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 6.2%)
Independence, MO
Pros
32% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Homes cost $41k less ($150,800 vs $192,000)
Households earn $8,224 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Income
$8,224
$57,415 vs $49,191/yr
Independence
Violent Crime
32% lower
571.2 vs 845.6 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$41k less
$150,800 vs $192,000
Independence
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $57,415 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 13.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 15 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 8 and Independence 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $150,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Independence, MO are about 528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.