Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 22 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $145/mo less ($893 vs $1,038)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°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
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
50% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 41°F
Homes cost $18k less ($174,100 vs $192,000)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Income
$1,770
$49,191 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
50% lower
425.9 vs 845.6 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$18k less
$174,100 vs $192,000
Waco
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 22 categories. Cincinnati wins 8 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $174,100 median home), income ($49,191 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Waco, TX are about 885 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.