Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Cincinnati leads 16 of 22 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($192,000 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $321/mo less ($893 vs $1,214)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Providence by $12,174/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Providence, RI
Pros
67% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $12,174 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$101k less
$192,000 vs $293,000
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Median Income
$12,174
$61,365 vs $49,191/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
67% lower
276.7 vs 845.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 16 of 22 categories. Cincinnati wins 16 and Providence wins 6. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $293,000 median home), income ($49,191 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Providence, RI are about 712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.