Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 16 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($192,000 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $579/mo less ($893 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $22,831/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 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $22,831 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 41°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$190k less
$192,000 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$22,831
$72,022 vs $49,191/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
44% lower
470.3 vs 845.6 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 16 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 7 and Tempe wins 16. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $382,100 median home), income ($49,191 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Tempe, AZ are about 1,572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.