Cincinnati, OH

Census place 3915000 · pop 311,224

D−37/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in OH
📍 Ohio ranks #28 of 50 states →
🏆 Education41.8% · top 28%
🚽 Inequality0.54 · bottom 3%
💡 Did you know?

Home of the first openly professional baseball team, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings.

Source ↗
Taxes
1.37% property · US 0.99%7.29% sales · US 7.00%2.75% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Income inequality0.543

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.54 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Homeownership39.8%4

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

39.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate25.5%8

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

25.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Poor mental health19.8%13

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$52,90917

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$52,909 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level11 days19

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

11 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level52 AQI21

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

52 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult smoking16.1%25

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

16.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.3%26

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity38.3%29

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

38.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Broadband access89.1%32

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

89.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Property-tax burden1.37%32

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.37% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Physical inactivity27.6%36

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

27.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level93/10037

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

93/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults9.6%49

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

9.6% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Population growth (5yr)+3.3%52

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+3.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Commute time22 min60

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Housing cost$230,90062

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$230,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$1,477/mo70

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,477/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Bachelor's degree or higher41.8%72

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

41.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Not measured for Cincinnati: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to live?
By the numbers, Cincinnati scores 37/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is bachelor's degree or higher and its weakest is income inequality. Ohio overall ranks #28 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Cincinnati, OH expensive to live in?
Cincinnati has a median home value of $230,900 and typical rent around $1,477/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Cincinnati, OH?
Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.54) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Cincinnati, OH best at?
Its strongest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (41.8%) — 72/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of the first openly professional baseball team, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.