Cincinnati and Columbus may be very close, but they feel worlds apart. They are two of the largest cities in Ohio, along with Cleveland. Columbus is famous for the Ohio State University, college football, and its park system, while Cincinnati is known for chili, cultural attractions, theme parks, and historic architecture. If you’re trying to decide between Cincinnati vs Columbus, there are many things that set them apart.
Here’s how Columbus vs Cincinnati compare and contrast to help you make your decision.
Pros & Cons of Living in Columbus vs Cincinnati
View this post on Instagram
Which city is right for you, the Queen City on the Ohio River or the Discovery City on the Scioto River? Both Cincinnati and Columbus have wonderful things to offer. But there are several Columbus and Cincinnati pros and cons to consider when deciding between Cincinnati vs Columbus. Here are some of the biggest pros and cons of living in Cincinnati vs Columbus.
Living in Columbus Pros
Before comparing Cincinnati vs Columbus, let’s take a look at the Columbus pros and cons. The rich history and friendly people make Columbus a great place to live.
Columbus Is a Great City for Football
View this post on Instagram
One of the biggest pros of living in Columbus for sports fans is the Ohio State Buckeyes. Columbus is, above all else, a college football city with a culture revolving around football and the Buckeyes.
Columbus Has a Thriving and Diverse Economy
When comparing Cincinnati vs. Columbus, the economy is a driving factor. While most cities in the Rust Belt have withered with declining populations and weakening economies, Columbus has been a success story. Its population increased a whopping 11% between 2010 and 2020 alone with more young, educated people moving to the city.
One of the pluses of living in Columbus is you’ll find great-paying careers in many industries, including medical research, tech, education, defense, banking, aviation, and insurance. There are several major corporations located in Columbus, such as Alliance Data, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, and American Electric Power.
When you compare Columbus versus Cincinnati, you’ll see the two have economies very similar in size although Cincinnati’s is a bit less diverse. Cincinnati is primarily a finance and banking city.
You’ll Find Great Art & Music in Columbus
One of the biggest advantages of living in Columbus? Its exciting visual arts, music, and culture scene. The art scene in Columbus has exploded in recent years with public art, professional troupes, independent artists, galleries, and museums around every corner. It was even ranked the 6th Best City for Culture in the U.S. by Business Insider.
You can take in the art scene in the Franklinton Arts District, the Short North Arts District, the Columbus Arts Festival, and through public art. The city is also home to the Columbus Museum of Art.
There’s more than just art to explore when comparing Cincinnati vs Columbus. Columbus has some of the best entertainment venues in the region like the Schottenstein Center, Kemba Live, and the Nationwide Arena.
Living in Columbus Cons
View this post on Instagram
Curious about the Cincinnati vs Columbus cons? Here are a few downsides of living in Columbus.
Columbus Doesn’t Have the Best Schools Compared to Cincinnati
If you have kids, the quality of the public schools may be enough to tip you toward Cincinnati vs Columbus. While Columbus has the largest school district in Ohio, Cincinnati school districts are among the best in the state.
Of the top 10 high schools in Ohio, four are in Greater Cincinnati including two of the top three schools in the state. Columbus only claims one, and it’s in the suburb of Bexley.
Living in Cincinnati Pros
View this post on Instagram
Here are a few pros of living in the Cincinnati area.
Cincinnati Has a Fun Nightlife
Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood, usually just called OTR, is America’s largest preserved historic district. Long a population center for German immigrants, it suffered from urban decay until it was revitalized into a fun nightlife destination.
One of the perks of living in Cincinnati? You’re walking distance from the business district to OTR & more! You’ll find exciting destinations like Ghost Baby – a social and music lounge underground in a long-abandoned 160-year-old brewery tunnel – and 16-Bit Bar and Arcade.
From downtown, you can also walk to football and baseball games on the river, the brand-new ICON Music Center for top music acts, and across the bridge to Newport, Kentucky for more nightlife options!
Cincinnati Has Some of the Top Entertainment Attractions in the Midwest
One of the top benefits of living in Cincinnati vs Columbus Ohio is the sheer amount of entertainment at your fingertips. Within the Greater Cincinnati area, you’ll find some of the top attractions in the Midwest and even the U.S. You’ll also find beautiful parks such as Smale Riverfront Park. Here are just some of the great Cincinnati attractions locals love:
- Kings Island, one of the top-rated roller coaster theme parks in America
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, named the best zoo in America and one of the country’s oldest
- Newport Aquarium, one of the country’s best, is within walking distance of downtown
- Coney Island, a water park with the world’s largest recirculating pool
- Cincinnati Museum Center in Union Terminal, one of America’s last great Art Deco train stations with three museums.
Columbus is also home to a top-rated zoo. The Columbus Zoo is much larger than the Cincinnati Zoo and also one of the best, but the Cincinnati Zoo usually ranks higher.
View this post on Instagram
Cincinnati is One of America’s Top 10 Cities for Young Professionals
Looking for a great place to live for young professionals, millennials, and young families? One of the positives of living in Cincinnati is it was recently ranked as one of the top 10 out of 150 cities for young professionals. It’s one of the most popular destinations for young people, giving the city a youthful energy. The ranking considered factors like the city’s percentage of residents between 25 and 34, unemployment rates, median rent, cost of living, density of entertainment, and median earnings.
Why did Cincinnati stand out? It had the 5th lowest median rent among the country’s 150 largest cities and the lowest percentage of median earnings (only 19%!). Young professionals enjoy not only a low cost of living and strong economy, but also an incredibly walkable downtown. There’s an entertainment district in Over the Rhine and another across the river in Newport, Kentucky, within walking distance.
Living in Cincinnati Cons
When comparing Columbus and Cincinnati, here are a few things that you may not like about Cinci.
Cincinnati Does Not Have Good Public Transportation
One of the biggest drawbacks of living in Cincinnati is it’s a very car-dependent city. It’s home to America’s largest abandoned subway system, which was never finished. The streetcar and Metro bus system are helpful for getting around downtown, but that’s about it.
When you compare and contrast Columbus vs Cincinnati, you’ll find public transit in Columbus is more robust.
Cost of Living in Cincinnati vs Columbus OH
What is the Columbus vs Cincinnati cost of living? The two cities are very similar –and affordable! Which is more affordable: Cincinnati or Columbus? The cost of living index is 91.8 in Columbus compared to the Cincinnati cost of living index of 96.9. The Columbus cost of living is 8.2% more affordable than the national average, while the Cincinnati cost of living is 3.1% more affordable than the national average. Prices vary depending on where in the city you live. For example, the downtown areas will naturally be more expensive.
When you compare Cincinnati vs Columbus, you’ll notice Cincinnati is about 10% more expensive for health care and transportation. However, Columbus is more expensive in terms of groceries, utilities, and housing.
Home prices in Columbus versus Cincinnati are around 10% higher: $275,000 compared to $260,000, according to Redfin. The Columbus real estate market is more competitive, with homes selling faster and with more offers. As a renter, you’ll pay almost the same in either city, about $1,300 in Columbus and $1,364 in Cincinnati, according to RentCafe.
Additional Things to Consider Between Columbus Versus Cincinnati
View this post on Instagram
Here are a few more things to think about when comparing Cincinnati vs Columbus.
Population
Is Cincinnati bigger than Columbus? When it comes to the Columbus vs. Cincinnati population, Columbus comes out on top. Columbus has twice as many people as Cincinnati, yet the two cities have almost the same population density.
The population of Cincinnati is 303,000 with a metro population of 2.1 million. By comparison, the Columbus population is 900,000 with a metro population of 2 million. Cincinnati covers about 78 square miles, but Columbus has 219 square miles of land.
Columbus vs Cincinnati Crime
Is crime a big concern when you compare Cincinnati vs Columbus? While the Columbus crime rate is 69.3% above the national average, the Cincinnati crime rate is higher. Cincinnati has a crime rate that is 97.6% higher than the national average. So, when comparing Cincinnati vs Columbus crime rates, Columbus comes out on top as the safer city.
Just remember that a city’s crime rate is not a good indication of your risk of being the victim of crime. In many cities, violent crime is often concentrated in just a few neighborhoods. In the safest neighborhoods in Cincinnati, for instance, crime is 17% below the national average.
Sports in Columbus vs Cincinnati
Curious about sports in Cincinnati vs Columbus? Columbus has the Ohio State Buckeyes, a college football team with a fervent following. One of the plus sides of living in Cincinnati is rooting for several major league teams: Cincinnati Reds (MLB), Cincinnati Bengals (NFL), and FC Cincinnati (MLS).
When you compare Columbus versus Cincinnati, you’ll find Cincinnati definitely comes out ahead for its major league teams.
Cincinnati vs Columbus Traffic
What’s the traffic like in Cincinnati vs Columbus? Unfortunately living in Columbus or Cincinnati will provide you with bad traffic. The two cities have equally bad traffic. Cincinnati has the 40th worst in the country, while Columbus is 42nd. They’re the worst cities in Ohio for traffic.
Columbus vs Cincinnati Airports
Love to travel? When choosing a city to call home, give some thought to the airport. It may not seem like a big deal until you find yourself forced to book costly and time-consuming connecting flights without nonstop options. Here’s how Cincinnati vs Columbus airports compare.
Cincinnati is served by the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), about 15 minutes outside downtown. Columbus is served by John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) minutes from downtown. Both are ranked among the best regional airports in the U.S., and CVG is one of the top 5 regional airports in the world!
View this post on Instagram
When it comes to airlines and destinations, you’ll find both are a bit limited. While they’re international, both have routes that are mostly domestic. Fares are also a bit high as they’re regional airports, but CVG has more affordable fares and more nonstop destinations.
How far is Columbus from Cincinnati?
What is the distance from Cincinnati to Columbus OH? It is only 107 miles from Columbus Ohio to Cincinnati Ohio, which is about a 2-hour drive. You don’t have to choose between Cincinnati vs Columbus, with the amenities of the other just a short drive away!
Columbus vs Cincinnati: Where Are You Moving?
Now that you have some idea of the differences between living in Cincinnati vs Columbus, which city will you call home? If you prefer a city that feels newer with more jobs involving the service, education, and government industries, Columbus is a good fit. If you’re after beautiful architecture, history, and a city with its own culture, Cincinnati is calling your name. But when comparing Columbus vs Cincinnati, you can’t go wrong with either city.
If you have decided to make either city your home, give the friendly movers at Bell Moving & Storage a call for a free moving quote. Both our Cincinnati movers and our Columbus movers are here to help you.
We look forward to helping you settle into your new neighborhood with a seamless moving experience. Give our Cincinnati movers a call at (513) 942-7500 and our Columbus movers a call at (614) 503-0035.
