Cincinnati OH vs Utica NY — 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%

Utica, NY

New York · Population: 51,054

  • Median HH Income$57,688
  • Median Home Price$205,924
  • Unemployment9.4%
  • Bachelor's+36.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cincinnati
309,595
Cincinnati +
Utica
51,054
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cincinnati
N/A
Utica
N/A
Median Age
Cincinnati
33.0
Utica
33.0
Tie
Foreign Born
Cincinnati
7.1%
Utica
9.7%
Utica +
White
Cincinnati
49.4%
Utica
64.8%
Utica +
Black
Cincinnati
38.7%
Cincinnati +
Utica
16.9%
Asian
Cincinnati
2.8%
Utica
4.3%
Utica +
Hispanic
Cincinnati
5.4%
Utica
9.8%
Utica +
Spanish at Home
Cincinnati
N/A
Utica
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cincinnati
$51,707
Utica
$57,688
Utica +
Per Capita Income
Cincinnati
$38,878
Cincinnati +
Utica
$35,780
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cincinnati
$58,300
Utica
$77,425
Utica +
Unemployment Rate
Cincinnati
6.8%
Cincinnati +
Utica
9.4%
Poverty Rate
Cincinnati
24.5%
Utica
23.8%
Utica +
Bachelor's Degree+
Cincinnati
41.3%
Cincinnati +
Utica
36.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cincinnati
$252,784
Utica
$205,924
Utica +
Homeownership Rate
Cincinnati
38.9%
Cincinnati +
Utica
36.8%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
319
Cincinnati +
Utica
434
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
1866
Utica
1736
Utica +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
38.3%
Cincinnati +
Utica
39.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
14.1%
Utica
14.1%
Tie
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cincinnati
19.8%
Utica
19.4%
Utica +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
9.6%
Cincinnati +
Utica
11.1%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
17.0%
Utica
15.2%
Utica +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
16.1%
Cincinnati +
Utica
18.7%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cincinnati
54.2°F
Utica
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cincinnati
47.7 in
Utica
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cincinnati
24.8 min
Utica
22.7 min
Utica +

Which City is Right for You?

Utica leads in median household income at $57,688, while utica offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $205,924. On public safety, Cincinnati is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in Utica. Cincinnati has a lower unemployment rate at 6.8%, and Utica has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Cincinnati scores better with a lower obesity rate of 38.3%.

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About Cincinnati & Utica