Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 12 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $186/mo less ($893 vs $1,079)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 31°F
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kenosha by $15,772/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.4%)
Kenosha, WI
Pros
66% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $15,772 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Income
$15,772
$64,963 vs $49,191/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
66% lower
285.7 vs 845.6 per 100k
Kenosha
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $194,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,079 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 12 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 11 and Kenosha wins 12. 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $194,400 median home), income ($49,191 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Kenosha, WI are about 296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.