Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 13 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870
Washington
District of Columbia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $513k less ($192,000 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $924/mo less ($893 vs $1,817)
9% less violent crime than Washington
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $52,531/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
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $52,531 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) 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 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
9% lower
845.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$513k less
$192,000 vs $705,000
Washington
Median Income
$52,531
$101,722 vs $49,191/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 41.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 13 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 10 and Washington wins 13. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $705,000 median home), income ($49,191 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Washington, DC are about 402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.