Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 17 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($192,000 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $320/mo less ($893 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wilmington by $9,717/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
43% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Households earn $9,717 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 41°F
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$127k less
$192,000 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Median Income
$9,717
$58,908 vs $49,191/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
43% lower
482.8 vs 845.6 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 17 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 6 and Wilmington wins 17. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $318,600 median home), income ($49,191 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Wilmington, NC are about 500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.