City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Cincinnati is significant: $93,658 median household versus $52,909. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,001 in Cincinnati.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cincinnati makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Cincinnati are 967 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $728 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $40,749 (44%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 231 in Cincinnati, up 69 points (43%).
The move
Cincinnati and Austin are 967 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $728 a month (73%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $93,658 in Austin, up $40,749 (77%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 162 in Austin, down 69 points (30%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cincinnati, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 42% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,729 in Austin, so Cincinnati is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $728/month back in your pocket ($8,736/year). Over five years that's $43,680 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 Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cincinnati is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
77% higher
Austin's median income is 77% higher than Cincinnati
Austin
Winner$93,658
Cincinnati
$52,909
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 77% higher in Austin (about $40,749 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, Austin 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
30% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 30% lower than Cincinnati
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Austin weather is 52% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 52% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Cincinnati if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 77% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Cincinnati (162 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,001/month in Cincinnati versus $1,729 in Austin. Median income reads $52,909 in Cincinnati and $93,658 in Austin, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 53°F in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Austin deserves a serious look only when your $93,658 income offer in Austin outweighs saving $728/month in Cincinnati.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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