Cincinnati vs Cleveland
Compare Cincinnati, OH and Cleveland, OH on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $990/mo in Cincinnati and $957/mo in Cleveland, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,195/mo and $1,108/mo. Across the four public-data screens Cincinnati comes out ahead (265 vs 239 summed points), though Cleveland still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 86°F and 84°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Cleveland screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (92 vs 74/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Cleveland; if walkable daily life matters more, Cincinnati screens stronger on the walkability proxy (19 vs 11). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Cincinnati leads 50 to 26 on the daily life screen.
Cincinnati leads 55 to 50 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Cincinnati is roughly $113,333 in Cleveland using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati | Cleveland | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $990/mo | $957/mo | Cleveland |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,195/mo | $1,108/mo | Cleveland |
| Median home value | $221,000 | $190,000 | Cleveland |
| State income tax | 2.8% | 2.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 26.2 min | Cleveland |
| Safety score | 65/100 | 59/100 | Cincinnati |
| School score | 6/10 | 4/10 | Cincinnati |
| Walkability estimate | 19/100 | 11/100 | Cincinnati |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 176.4 | 0 | Cincinnati |
| Mountain distance | 9 mi | 81 mi | Cincinnati |
| Coast distance | 390 mi | 304 mi | Cleveland |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 74/100 | 92/100 | Cleveland |
| Coastal flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 0th | 69th | Cincinnati |
| Heat wave risk percentile (NRI) | 69th | 33th | Cleveland |
| Drought risk percentile (NRI) | 31th | 0th | Cleveland |
What stands out
Cincinnati stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 18 miles
- Mountain access within 9 miles
Cincinnati tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Cleveland stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 17 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Cleveland tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Cincinnati cheaper than Cleveland?
On public benchmarks Cleveland is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $990/mo in Cincinnati vs $957/mo in Cleveland; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,195/mo vs $1,108/mo; state income tax is 2.8% vs 2.8%.
Is Cincinnati or Cleveland safer?
Cincinnati screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 65/100 for Cincinnati and 59/100 for Cleveland (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Cincinnati or Cleveland?
School screens show 6/10 for Cincinnati vs 4/10 for Cleveland, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Cincinnati and Cleveland?
Cincinnati: summer highs near 86°F, winter lows near 18°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Cleveland: 84°F / 12°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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