Is Cincinnati cheaper than Durham?

Yes. Typical rent in Cincinnati is $1,353 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 21% cheaper. Median household income is $49,191 in Cincinnati compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Cincinnati or Durham?

Cincinnati is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Cincinnati or Durham?

School composites are close: A- in Cincinnati and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Cincinnati, OH vs Durham, NC

Cincinnati, OH versus Durham, NC is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,353 a month in Cincinnati and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $49,191 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Cincinnati takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Durham takes job market. The widest gap is median income, where Durham leads by 52% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Cincinnati can feel further apart than Cincinnati and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Cincinnati and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Cincinnati report Full Durham report

Cincinnati, OH

Rent: $1,353/mo
Median income: $49,191
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 71°F

Durham, NC

Rent: $1,711/mo
Median income: $74,710
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

21% cheaper

Cincinnati rent is 21% cheaper than Durham

Cincinnati

Winner

$1,353/mo

Durham

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,353 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,711 in Durham, so Cincinnati is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $358/month back in your pocket — $4,296/year. Over five years that's $21,480 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Durham, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cincinnati is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

52% higher

Durham's median income is 52% higher than Cincinnati

Cincinnati

$49,191

Durham

Winner

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $49,191 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Durham — about $25,519 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Durham is the stronger labor market on paper. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Cincinnati's crime index is 11% lower than Durham

Cincinnati

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Cincinnati's crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Cincinnati. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Cincinnati, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Durham. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Cincinnati and Durham are about even on school scores.

Cincinnati

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Cincinnati, A- in Durham). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

26% more comfortable

Cincinnati weather is 26% more comfortable than Durham

Cincinnati

Winner

71°F typical

Durham

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Cincinnati scores 26% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 71°F in Cincinnati and 79°F in Durham. Cincinnati reads as mild, livable temperatures; Durham reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Cincinnati is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Durham can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Cincinnati

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,353 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Cincinnati if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 26%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Cincinnati is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Cincinnati is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Durham (86 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Cincinnati report →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 52% higher here ($74,710). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Durham report →

Bottom line

Cincinnati vs Durham, called

If the job market is your priority, Durham is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Cincinnati pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Cincinnati offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Cincinnati vs Durham FAQ

Is Cincinnati cheaper than Durham?: Yes. Typical rent in Cincinnati is $1,353 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 21% cheaper. Median household income is $49,191 in Cincinnati compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Cincinnati or Durham?: Cincinnati is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Cincinnati or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Cincinnati and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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