Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Cincinnati leads 13 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870
New York
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $540k less ($192,000 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $821/mo less ($893 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails New York by $27,416/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
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $27,416 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$540k less
$192,000 vs $732,100
Cincinnati
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
New York
Median Income
$27,416
$76,607 vs $49,191/yr
New York
Violent Crime
21% lower
671.0 vs 845.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 13 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 13 and New York wins 10. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $732,100 median home), income ($49,191 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and New York, NY are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.