Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Cincinnati leads 12 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($192,000 vs $328,700)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($893 vs $1,267)
27% less violent crime than Minneapolis
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 22°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $27,141/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 5.8%)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $27,141 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
27% lower
845.6 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$137k less
$192,000 vs $328,700
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$27,141
$76,332 vs $49,191/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 12 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 12 and Minneapolis wins 11. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $328,700 median home), income ($49,191 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Minneapolis, MN are about 603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.