Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 18 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($192,000 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $806/mo less ($893 vs $1,699)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $56,488/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 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,488 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$221k less
$192,000 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$56,488
$105,679 vs $49,191/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
82% lower
151.6 vs 845.6 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 18 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 5 and Plano wins 18. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $412,500 median home), income ($49,191 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Plano, TX are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.