City Comparison
Papillion vs Cincinnati
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Papillion scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Papillion
Cincinnati
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Cincinnati is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
12% lower than in Papillion.
Housing costs are a major driver: Papillion's average rent is
28% higher than Cincinnati's.
| Metric | Papillion | Cincinnati | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,800 | $1,410 | +28% |
| Groceries | $450 | $493 | -9% |
| Utilities | $180 | $178 | +1% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,800 | $2,451 | +14% |
| Cost Index | 104 | 103 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cincinnati offers 18% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cincinnati delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Papillion is estimated at
$55,000 vs $55,000 in Cincinnati.
| Metric | Papillion | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $79,000 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,500 idx | 76,699 idx |
| Household Income | $111,679 | $52,909 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Papillion runs warmer on average — a 53.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Papillion comes out ahead with 271 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Papillion sees 21.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Papillion | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 84.40°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 17.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 32.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 21.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 271 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Papillion scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Papillion leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Papillion | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 60.0/100 | 49.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cincinnati is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Papillion.
From a growth perspective, Papillion is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Papillion has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Papillion | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,244 | 314,915 |
| Pop. Growth | 4.44% | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 41.1 | 33.2 |
| Unemployment | 2.20% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Papillion
Advantages
Strong median household income of $111,679, significantly above the national average.
Low violent crime rate, 94% below the national average.
High homeownership rate of 73.9%.
Significant employment growth of 4.44% from 2023 to 2024.
Highly-rated public schools within the Papillion-La Vista Public School District.
Drawbacks
Car-dependent lifestyle with limited public transportation options.
Housing costs are 17% higher than the national average.
Commute times can be challenging, especially for north-south travel.
Property taxes can be higher than expected.
Limited affordable resale inventory in some price points.
Cincinnati
Advantages
The cost of living in Cincinnati is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many major U.S. cities.
Cincinnati boasts a diverse and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
The city offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, including museums, theaters, and a symphony orchestra.
Several neighborhoods, such as Over-The-Rhine and the Central Business District, are highly walkable, with Walk Scores of 94 and 92 respectively.
The median property value in Cincinnati was $230,900 in 2024, significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible.
Drawbacks
While some areas are highly walkable, the city's overall Walk Score of 49 indicates a car-dependent environment for most errands.
Public transportation, while available, is not considered the most dependable, often necessitating a personal vehicle.
The city's poverty rate was 25.5% in 2024, which is higher than the national average.
Cincinnati experiences extreme seasonal variations in humidity, with muggy summers and very cold, snowy winters.
The average commute time in the Cincinnati metropolitan area was 2 hours daily in 2023, which is relatively long compared to some other cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Papillion
#24Nebraska, USA
72.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
104
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
271/yr
Avg Temp
53.30°F
Pop. Growth
4.44%
Unemployment
2.20%
Livability
74
Business
68
Cincinnati
#501Ohio, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
103
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
49.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
70
Business
72
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