Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 14 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($192,000 vs $264,900)
Rent averages $281/mo less ($893 vs $1,174)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 24°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails St. Paul by $20,728/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 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Households earn $20,728 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Cincinnati
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$73k less
$192,000 vs $264,900
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$20,728
$69,919 vs $49,191/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
27% lower
617.7 vs 845.6 per 100k
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 14 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 9 and St. Paul wins 14. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $264,900 median home), income ($49,191 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and St. Paul, MN are about 596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.