City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
The income gap between Raleigh and Cincinnati is significant: $85,395 median household versus $52,909. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,001 in Cincinnati.
Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh and Cincinnati are 397 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $571 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $32,486 (38%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 231 in Cincinnati, up 89 points (63%).
The move
Cincinnati and Raleigh are 397 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $571 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $32,486 (61%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 142 in Raleigh, down 89 points (39%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 36% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Cincinnati is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $571/month back in your pocket ($6,852/year). Over five years that's $34,260 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 Raleigh, 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
Raleigh's median income is 61% higher than Cincinnati
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Cincinnati
$52,909
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Raleigh (about $32,486 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, Raleigh 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
39% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 39% lower than Cincinnati
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
30% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 30% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh scores 30% 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 61% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Cincinnati (142 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 36% 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
On rent alone, Cincinnati undercuts Raleigh by $571/month ($1,001 vs $1,572). I would not pick Raleigh on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 49/100 in Raleigh and 35/100 in Cincinnati.
Between Raleigh and Cincinnati, Cincinnati is ahead on housing cost — $1,001/month rent against $1,572. Lean Raleigh instead when your $85,395 income offer in Raleigh outweighs saving $571/month in Cincinnati.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Cincinnati, plus other cities in NC and OH.
