Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 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
Oakland
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $692k less ($192,000 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $956/mo less ($893 vs $1,849)
56% less violent crime than Oakland
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $45,198/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%)
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,198 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 87°F
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
56% lower
845.6 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$692k less
$192,000 vs $883,800
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$45,198
$94,389 vs $49,191/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 12 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 12 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $883,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Oakland, CA are about 2,028 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.