HEAD TO HEAD
Cincinnati vs Salem
Cincinnati leads Salem on 3 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Cincinnati, OH
wins 3 of 5 factors
Salem, OH
wins 2 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Cincinnati | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 86 | 96 ◆ |
| Affordable to rent | 74 | 100 ◆ |
| Climate comfort | 60 ◆ | 59 |
| Plenty of sunshine | 42 ◆ | 39 |
| Big-city amenities | 93 ◆ | 6 |
By the numbers
| Figure | Cincinnati | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $311K | $163K |
| Typical rent | $1,575/mo | $846/mo |
| Average temperature | 12.3°C | 10.7°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 3.99 kWh/m²/day | 3.88 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #28 | #388 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.