Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 15 of 22 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Knoxville
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $150/mo less ($893 vs $1,043)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
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 4.8%)
Knoxville, TN
Pros
12% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°F
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Income
$882
$49,191 vs $48,309/yr
Knoxville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
12% lower
740.3 vs 845.6 per 100k
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,043 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 15 of 22 categories. Cincinnati wins 7 and Knoxville 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $184,200 median home), income ($49,191 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Knoxville, TN are about 221 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.