Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870
Sacramento
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($192,000 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $699/mo less ($893 vs $1,592)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $29,763/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
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,763 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$259k less
$192,000 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$29,763
$78,954 vs $49,191/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
11% lower
754.9 vs 845.6 per 100k
Sacramento
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 8 and Sacramento wins 15. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $450,500 median home), income ($49,191 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Sacramento, CA are about 1,975 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.