16 Pros and Cons of Living in Cincinnati, OH

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Moving to a new location can be exciting.

If you’re considering a move to Cincinnati, OH, and are not too familiar with the city, learning the advantages and disadvantages may be beneficial for you.

There’s a lot to love about Cincinnati, but there are also some downsides that may cause you to second-guess your move.

This guide will provide you with a full list of the pros and cons of living in Cincinnati to help you determine whether this is a city worth living in.

Pros of Living in Cincinnati, OH

First, let’s discuss some of the pros of living in Cincinnati, OH.

1. Thriving Job Market

A huge reason to consider moving to Cincinnati is because of its job market.

Cincinnati is home to a couple of well-known hospital systems, including TriHealth and UC Health, both of which offer jobs.

These are just a couple of options for those looking for a job in the healthcare field, as they alone employ many people around the city.

Furthermore, you can find various jobs in the financial industry.

A couple of big institutions are also located in town, including Fifth Third Bank and Western & Southern Financial Group.

2. Affordable Living

Cincinnati also offers an affordable cost of living for residents who live here.

This is especially true compared to other large cities around the U.S.

Cincinnati was also ranked number 10 for the most affordable city in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.

The average cost of living in the city is 21% of the average household income.

So, when you compare the amount of income you earn to the amount you’ll be paying for household expenses, it’s considered great.

3. Numerous Parks

Do you enjoy hiking or walking in your downtime?

If so, you’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of parks around Cincinnati that offer you the opportunity to do just that.

You’ll find an endless number of options, from nature centers to public areas.

They are filled with miles of walking and hiking trails.

Glenwood Gardens and Sharon Woods will soon become favorites to enjoy everything that Cincinnati has to offer.

4. Nice Food Selection

If you consider yourself a foodie, get ready for all that Cincinnati has to offer.

You can find almost anything to eat in the city, from sushi to tacos.

There’s a diverse selection of food options in Cincinnati.

Some of the highest-ranked restaurants in town are Casa Figueroa, Mazunte, Bakersfield, La Mexicana, Frida 602, and many more.

5. Great for Entertainment

Another perk of moving to Cincinnati is that there are an endless number of entertainment options available.

If you are an outgoing person, you’ll never get bored living in Cincinnati.

Check out the yearly Oktoberfest Festival or the Video Archive.

There are more than 40 different coffee shops and even an indoor botanical garden known as the Krohn Conservatory.

Furthermore, the city hosts plenty of year-round festivals and other activities for the entire family to enjoy.

6. Diverse Neighborhoods

Cincinnati has a substantial amount of diversity in every neighborhood that you visit.

Every area has its own culture and personality.

For example, the north side of Cincinnati has a hip culture, while the Columbia-Tusculum area has a San Francisco feel to it.

If you like an upscale type of vibe, you’ll find that in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

There’s no need to travel to another state to get a change of scenery.

7. Appealing Architecture

Another pro of living in Cincinnati is the beautiful architecture that you’ll find throughout the city.

For example, there are historic homes with elegant designs throughout Eden Park and a historic music hall located in Over the Rhine.

You will find so many architectural gems if you plan on moving here.

There’s also a pretty impressive Instagram account you can check out called “Cincinnati Revealed,” which frequently posts pictures of distinctive homes and buildings around the town.

8. Excellent for Higher Education

Cincinnati is also home to some of the best colleges and universities in the country.

A few schools located here are Miami University, Xavier University, Northern Kentucky University, and the University of Cincinnati.

There are other options not too far away, including the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

So, if you are an undergraduate or graduate student, you’ll have many options to choose from if you plan on going to school right in the city.

Cons of Living in Cincinnati, OH

1. High Crime Rates

Besides crime, safety tends to be an issue in Cincinnati as well.

The number of robberies and assaults is more than double compared to the national average.

Also, Cincinnati deals with a lot of general theft, burglaries, and motor vehicle theft.

While things in the city seem to be improving, there are still issues with safety that must be addressed.

2. Public Transportation Is Limited

Cincinnati is considered a major metro area.

However, compared to other large metro areas around the country, the public transit system in Cincinnati is not as robust.

Cincinnati does have a metro bus system that enables people to get back and forth to work if they are headed downtown.

There’s also a streetcar system, but that too is located downtown in Cincinnati.

Also, it only provides service to populated areas around town.

Interestingly enough, most residents prefer getting around by car.

3. A lot of Traffic Congestion

Traveling around town by vehicle isn’t a bad idea, especially considering you can make it to your destination within 20 minutes or less.

And although traffic in Cincinnati isn’t as bad compared to Los Angeles or Chicago, there are certain areas that can cause a real headache.

These areas are particularly Interstates 71 and 75.

You will run into a lot of traffic congestion as you head across the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects Cincinnati with Northern Kentucky.

Furthermore, this area has been rated as having some of the worst congestion in the entire country.

4. Bad Air Quality

If you suffer from allergies or respiratory conditions, moving to Cincinnati may exaggerate these conditions.

This is mainly due to the terrible air quality in Cincinnati.

In fact, Cincinnati was ranked as one of the most polluted towns, according to the American Lung Association.

Air pollution typically comes from vehicle congestion and the production of energy.

Furthermore, the city is also home to a few coal-burning plants.

5. Not Good for Allergy Sufferers

Besides worrying about the air quality worsening your allergies, you will also have tree pollen to be concerned about throughout the year.

So, if you have an allergy to any type of plant pollen, you should know that Cincinnati sees heavy amounts of it each year.

February through October may be the worst for some, while the spring is worse for others. I

n fact, the pollen can be so thick that it is visible in the air.

6. Unforeseeable Weather

Ohio, in general, experiences some of the most unforeseeable weather in the U.S.

This unpredictable weather pattern doesn’t occur from season to season.

Instead, it occurs on a daily basis.

There are even times when you may experience changes in weather on the same day.

Many residents have experienced blizzards throughout October and even in April.

Furthermore, they have seen many 70-degree days in December.

Summers can be hot and humid, while winters can be full of snow, causing issues with driving.

7. Not a Great Public Education System

If you have school-aged children, you may want to think twice about moving to Cincinnati.

The city of Cincinnati has a poor public education system.

For many years, the school system in the city has consistently failed to get students ready for college or trade schools.

The graduation rates in Cincinnati are well below the national average.

There are several factors that contribute to the poor quality of education, such as limited resources and poor infrastructure.

8. Political Differences

Cincinnati has a huge political divide among residents and party lines.

In return, this creates unwanted tensions between various communities around town.

This divide mainly causes politicians from different party lines to have different views on certain issues.

For example, it’s difficult for politicians to come to an agreement on issues that residents struggle with, such as healthcare, education, and taxes.

16 Pros and Cons of Living in Cincinnati, OH – Summary Table

Cincinnati Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Cincinnati Safety Review

Safety Index:

48

• OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
• MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
• TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
• SCAMS RISK: LOW
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM