Roughly 100 miles east of Louisville, Cincinnati spreads across hills above the Ohio River, with a downtown of old brick and a real sense of local pride. About 314,000 people live in the city and more than two million in the metro area. Over-the-Rhine is the center of the fun, with restored buildings, breweries and restaurants near Findlay Market. Visitors also head to the zoo, the Museum Center in the old Union Terminal, the Roebling Suspension Bridge and a Reds game in summer.
Daily life is affordable, with living costs a bit below the national average and reasonable rent. German heritage shows up in Oktoberfest Zinzinnati and in the beer culture. The honest downsides: violent crime is well above the national median, and car break-ins are a hassle. Some neighborhoods north of the core, such as Avondale, deserve caution after dark. Summers are hot and humid, winters bring ice, and the river can flood in spring.
Cities with a similar character, anywhere on the site.
Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.
- Known as
- Queen City; Queen of the West; Porkopolis; Cincy; The Nati; Blue Chip City
- Founded
- 1788 settled; 1802 incorporated as town; 1819 chartered as city
- Languages
- English; Spanish; German (heritage); Nepali; Arabic; Vietnamese
- Airports
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG), about 13 miles southwest in Hebron, KY; Cincinnati Municipal Lunken (LUK) general aviation; nearest alternatives Dayton (DAY) about 55 miles, Louisville (SDF) about 100 miles, Columbus (CMH) about 105 miles, Indianapolis (IND) about 110 miles
- Tipping
- Restaurants 18-20% for table service; bars $1-2 per drink; taxis and rideshare 15-20%; hotel housekeeping $3-5 per night; bellhops $1-2 per bag; hair and spa 15-20%; counter service optional
