Harrisburg-Carlisle and Cincinnati receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Harrisburg-Carlisle
Cincinnati
Opportunity
81 · Top 7%
vs75 · Top 16%
Growth
64 · Top 27%
vs68 · Top 21%
Climate
70 · Top 37%
vs69 · Top 40%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 22%
vs82 · Top 12%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 34%
vs98 · Top 37%
Access
92 · Top 21%
vs98 · Top 5%
Economic stability
84 · Top 9%
vs79 · Top 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Harrisburg-Carlisle | Cincinnati | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 604,155 | 2,270,706 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $80,919 | $81,120 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,785 | $44,674 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 373/sq mi | 518/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $253,100 | $258,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,212 | $1,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.0% | 68.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.7% | 0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,549 | 9,051 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.6 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 23.2% | 30.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.0" | 43.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 26.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.1 | 38.2 | 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
Harrisburg-Carlisle
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Cincinnati
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Harrisburg-Carlisle
81
Your Score
79
Area Score
Cincinnati
81
Your Score
79
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology