Cincinnati OH vs Fayetteville AR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Cincinnati, OH

Ohio · Population: 309,595

  • Median HH Income$51,707
  • Median Home Price$252,784
  • Unemployment6.8%
  • Bachelor's+41.3%

Fayetteville, AR

Arkansas · Population: 97,227

  • Median HH Income$59,074
  • Median Home Price$380,101
  • Unemployment4.9%
  • Bachelor's+49.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cincinnati
309,595
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
97,227
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cincinnati
N/A
Fayetteville
N/A
Median Age
Cincinnati
33.0
Fayetteville
28.7
Fayetteville +
Foreign Born
Cincinnati
7.1%
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
5.7%
White
Cincinnati
49.4%
Fayetteville
75.6%
Fayetteville +
Black
Cincinnati
38.7%
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
5.2%
Asian
Cincinnati
2.8%
Fayetteville
3.1%
Fayetteville +
Hispanic
Cincinnati
5.4%
Fayetteville
7.7%
Fayetteville +
Spanish at Home
Cincinnati
N/A
Fayetteville
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cincinnati
$51,707
Fayetteville
$59,074
Fayetteville +
Per Capita Income
Cincinnati
$38,878
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
$37,885
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cincinnati
$58,300
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
$53,714
Unemployment Rate
Cincinnati
6.8%
Fayetteville
4.9%
Fayetteville +
Poverty Rate
Cincinnati
24.5%
Fayetteville
21.4%
Fayetteville +
Bachelor's Degree+
Cincinnati
41.3%
Fayetteville
49.8%
Fayetteville +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cincinnati
$252,784
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
$380,101
Homeownership Rate
Cincinnati
38.9%
Fayetteville
41.9%
Fayetteville +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
319
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
660
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
1866
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
2507

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
38.3%
Fayetteville
33.5%
Fayetteville +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
14.1%
Fayetteville
7.5%
Fayetteville +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cincinnati
19.8%
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
20.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
9.6%
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
10.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
17.0%
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
17.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
16.1%
Fayetteville
12.0%
Fayetteville +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cincinnati
54.2°F
Cincinnati +
Fayetteville
58.2°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cincinnati
47.7 in
Fayetteville
45.5 in
Fayetteville +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
10.3 µg/m³
Fayetteville
9.5 µg/m³
Fayetteville +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cincinnati
55.0%
Fayetteville
55.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cincinnati
24.8 min
Fayetteville
19.9 min
Fayetteville +

Which City is Right for You?

Fayetteville leads in median household income at $59,074, while cincinnati offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $252,784. On public safety, Cincinnati is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Fayetteville. Fayetteville has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and Fayetteville has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fayetteville scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Cincinnati & Fayetteville