Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 17 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $121/mo less ($893 vs $1,014)
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
Median income trails Louisville/Jefferson County metro government by $13,923/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.3%)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
16% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $13,923 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$13k less
$192,000 vs $204,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 94.1 on the COL index
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Income
$13,923
$63,114 vs $49,191/yr
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Violent Crime
16% lower
707.4 vs 845.6 per 100k
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $204,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $63,114 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ 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 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 42.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 15.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 60.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 17 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 6 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 17. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $204,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 91 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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