Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Toledo leads 12 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Toledo
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
73% less violent crime than Toledo
Households earn $15,960 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.2%)
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($98,800 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $360/mo less ($854 vs $1,214)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Providence by $15,960/yr
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 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Median Income
$15,960
$61,365 vs $45,405/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
73% lower
276.7 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Providence
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$194k less
$98,800 vs $293,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 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 | 75 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toledo leads 12 of 23 categories. Providence wins 11 and Toledo wins 12. 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 Providence to Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $98,800 median home), income ($61,365 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Toledo, OH are about 627 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.