Cincinnati OH vs Norman OK — 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%

Norman, OK

Oklahoma · Population: 128,714

  • Median HH Income$65,060
  • Median Home Price$264,711
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+46.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cincinnati
309,595
Cincinnati +
Norman
128,714
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cincinnati
N/A
Norman
N/A
Median Age
Cincinnati
33.0
Norman
31.6
Norman +
Foreign Born
Cincinnati
7.1%
Norman
7.2%
Norman +
White
Cincinnati
49.4%
Norman
73.0%
Norman +
Black
Cincinnati
38.7%
Cincinnati +
Norman
5.1%
Asian
Cincinnati
2.8%
Norman
4.2%
Norman +
Hispanic
Cincinnati
5.4%
Norman
9.0%
Norman +
Spanish at Home
Cincinnati
N/A
Norman
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cincinnati
$51,707
Norman
$65,060
Norman +
Per Capita Income
Cincinnati
$38,878
Cincinnati +
Norman
$37,897
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cincinnati
$58,300
Cincinnati +
Norman
$57,929
Unemployment Rate
Cincinnati
6.8%
Norman
5.7%
Norman +
Poverty Rate
Cincinnati
24.5%
Norman
17.0%
Norman +
Bachelor's Degree+
Cincinnati
41.3%
Norman
46.2%
Norman +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cincinnati
$252,784
Cincinnati +
Norman
$264,711
Homeownership Rate
Cincinnati
38.9%
Norman
52.7%
Norman +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
319
Cincinnati +
Norman
429
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
1866
Cincinnati +
Norman
2375

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
38.3%
Norman
35.8%
Norman +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
14.1%
Norman
9.8%
Norman +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cincinnati
19.8%
Norman
18.8%
Norman +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
9.6%
Norman
9.2%
Norman +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
17.0%
Norman
14.0%
Norman +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
16.1%
Norman
12.8%
Norman +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cincinnati
54.2°F
Cincinnati +
Norman
60.2°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cincinnati
47.7 in
Norman
38.9 in
Norman +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
10.3 µg/m³
Norman
8.8 µg/m³
Norman +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cincinnati
55.0%
Norman
75.0%
Norman +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cincinnati
24.8 min
Norman
24.2 min
Norman +

Which City is Right for You?

Norman leads in median household income at $65,060, 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 429 in Norman. Norman has a lower unemployment rate at 5.7%, and Norman has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.8 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Norman scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Cincinnati & Norman