Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Cincinnati leads 12 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
19% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Households earn $3,786 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 34°F
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($98,800 vs $192,000)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cincinnati
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.9%)
Median income trails Cincinnati by $3,786/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Income
$3,786
$49,191 vs $45,405/yr
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
19% lower
845.6 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Cincinnati
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$93k less
$98,800 vs $192,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 12 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 12 and Toledo wins 11. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $98,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Toledo, OH are about 181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.