Cincinnati or Columbus: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Cincinnati wins on more indicators: 4 of 10 against 3.
- Money: Cincinnati 4:0
- Climate and risks: Columbus 0:3
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Cincinnati
Indicator
Columbus
Money
Better: Cincinnati (4 : 0)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$71,492
20245% higher
✗$68,096
20245% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,522
2026-09-30almost equal
$1,525
2026-09-30almost equal
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$305,940
2026-09-306% lower
✗$326,910
2026-09-307% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓95.4 100 = US average
2024almost equal
95.5 100 = US average
2024almost equal
Climate and risks
Better: Columbus (0 : 3)Air: median AQI
tie
54 AQI
2024
54 AQI
2024
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗14 days per year
2024180% higher
✓5 days per year
202464% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗58 days per year
2016-20252% higher
✓57 days per year
2016-20252% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
15 days per year
2016-2025
15 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗0.7 days per year
2016-202517% higher
✓0.6 days per year
2016-202514% lower
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
18 days per year
2016-2025
24 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,584 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,736 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
680 °C·days per year
2016-2025
681 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
110 days per year
2016-2025
117 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
6 days per year
2016-2025
6 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,206 mm per year
2016-2025
1,169 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
no data for one of the places
69 %
2021-2025
no data
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
no data for one of the places
38 days per year
2021-2025
no data
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
627 km
2006-2025
512 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,302,815 people
2024
2,225,377 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Cincinnati, Columbus.