Cincinnati receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Opportunity
78 · Top 13%
vs75 · Top 16%
Growth
44 · Bottom 40%
vs63 · Top 28%
Climate
65 · Bottom 44%
vs69 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
79 · Top 19%
vs82 · Top 15%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 17%
vs98 · Top 26%
Access
92 · Top 32%
vs98 · Top 8%
Economic stability
69 · Top 35%
vs79 · Top 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Pittsburgh | Cincinnati | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,439,940 | 2,270,706 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,762 | $81,120 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,933 | $44,674 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 433/sq mi | 518/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $215,000 | $258,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,053 | $1,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.7% | 68.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.4% | 0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 6,107 | 9,051 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.5 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.6% | 30.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.3" | 43.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 26.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.8 | 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
Pittsburgh
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
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.
Pittsburgh
75
Your Score
76
Area Score
Cincinnati
81
Your Score
80
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology