Columbus receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Cincinnati
Columbus
Opportunity
69 · Top 21%
vs79 · Top 10%
Growth
61 · Top 32%
vs64 · Top 23%
Climate
69 · Bottom 47%
vs68 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 9%
vs77 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
74 · Top 40%
vs78 · Top 31%
Access
98 · Top 24%
vs99 · Top 22%
Economic stability
43 · Bottom 19%
vs54 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Cincinnati | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 311,224 | 914,802 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $52,909 | $66,082 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,324 | $37,860 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,994/sq mi | 4,129/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $230,900 | $252,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,001 | $1,295 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 39.8% | 44.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.8% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 38.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 25.5% | 18.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 984 | 6,848 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 7.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 268.5% | -21.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.4" | 41.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 23.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.2 | 33.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Cincinnati
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Columbus
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Cincinnati
72
Your Score
74
Area Score
Columbus
74
Your Score
76
Area Score
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Full profiles: Cincinnati, OH · Columbus, OH · How this is calculated: methodology