Cincinnati, OH vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Cincinnati
72.8
#820 nationally
Columbus
76.5
#341 nationally
Columbus leads in median household income ($62,889 vs $46,094). Cincinnati leads in walk score (50 vs 41). Columbus leads in school rating (6.8 vs 5.6).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.8 (#820) | 76.5 (#341) |
| Population | 311,097 | 913,175 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $251,326 | $248,686 |
| Median Household Income | $46,094 | $62,889 |
| Average Commute | 23.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Walk Score | 50 | 41 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | Moderate |
| School Rating | 5.6 | 6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+14.9 | D+28.4 |
C-
72.8 Score
Cincinnati, OH
Queen City charm with renewed energy
Median Home
$251,326
Population
311,097
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C+
Midwest
View Cincinnati, OH →
C
76.5 Score
Columbus, OH
Ohio's capital city on the rise
Median Home
$248,686
Population
913,175
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Midwest
View Columbus, OH →
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