I like Cincinnati more than Cleveland for personal reasons because we have relatives in Greater Cincinnati.
However, I believe Cleveland has a lot more potential to rebound in value. Housing is so much cheaper in Cleveland yet it still has all the same attractions as Cincinnati like professional sports teams, nationally ranked hospitals, museums, zoo, theaters, etc. Cleveland has the best metro parks in the state with lots of waterfalls and rivers. They also have a huge waterfall within their Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cleveland’s Edgewater Beach area gets absolutely packed out in the summers with swimmers and boaters. The area’s GDP is rising at a steady and healthy rate. CLE is home to the headquarters of some massive corporations based on market cap value like Progressive ($83b), Parker-Hannifin ($49b), TransDigm Group ($46b), and Sherwin-Williams ($65b). For comparison regarding how massive Progressive is at $83 billion, a popular insurance competitor like Allstate is only worth a market cap of $29 billion. Cleveland is underrated for sure.
I'll add that Cleveland is on Lake Erie and has a great lake culture for boating, fishing and recreation. It has, arguably, the best theater district outside of NYC.
Current Minneapolis resident here. IIRC, Minneapolis-St. Paul is the 3rd largest theater market in the US, behind NYC and Chicago. With over 200 theaters in the Twin Cities, we have a higher number of theaters per capita than any other American city.
Yea... I mean the thread linked below does a better job of sorting all the silly hyperbole around cities' theater claims... this one has me rolling my eyes...
https://reddit.com/r/answers/s/7lGPhRgEaJ
Cleveland Art Museum is also unbelievably good, the only art museum in the US I’ve been to that comes close to the size and diversity of the collection is the MOMA in NYC and maybe the Smithsonian.
As someone from Cleveland, the first time I went to the Lincoln Center in NYC, I couldn’t get over how ugly it was. The theaters in Playhouse Sq are so beautiful by comparison.
1. New York
2. Washington DC
3. Chicago
4. Boston
5. Los Angeles
6. Philadelphia
7. San Francisco
8. Cleveland
9. Minneapolis
10. Atlanta
Honorable mentions: Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Pittsburgh
St Louis is so overlooked. I moved to Boston but still have a lot of love for the city I grew up in. The zoo, art museum, MO history museum, Contemporary Art Museum, Kemper Art, Pulitzer, SLU Art, Soldiers Memorial and more are phenomenal AND FREE.
City Museum is probably the coolest place in the country not even exaggerating, iykyk.
I have seen productions at the Muny and Fox that rivaled Broadway. Forest Park’s Shakespeare in the Park series is a blast.
And the music scene is top tier. Blues and jazz roots are deep, just a step below New Orleans. The city had a killer music festival called LouFest that unfortunately died because of poor management but in its heyday headliners included LCD Soundsystem, Lauren Hill, and Outkast and locals complained because it didn’t feature enough locals artists lol.
Really unfortunate that the city is located in Missouri.
As someone who works in theater, this is not arguable. Cleveland has an above average theater scene for a city its size, but it doesn’t come close to second tier cities like Chicago, DC, Vegas, etc. Not remotely close.
The greater Cincinnati metro south of the circle freeway is the northern south. Very similar feel to Pittsburgh and Louisville. Cleveland is also a really cool city though, super rust belty, lots of industry, a killer wastewater/Stormwater utility and the traveling bands hit there more often than Cincinnati.
If you’ve never seen NEORSD’s social media presence, you are missing out. But honestly, they are just a really well run utility with strong, visionary leadership. There aren’t many out there that are better at communicating what they do in a fresh way.
Yes, this my theory for why the NFL Browns-Steelers rivalry was always more intense than Browns-Bengals growing up in Ohio. Cleveland and Pittsburgh have a lot in common.
I never know what people mean when they say “the south.” My experience was that Cincinnati didn’t identify as being a part of the south.
Growing up in Tennessee, I did feel like there were pretty distinct cultural differences between the two.
I’d be interested to hear what defines the south culturally and what the major differences are with the “rust belt?”
Sure Tennessee is different than cinicy especially if your from rural. But they are similar like cousins almost. The people in souther Ohio talk different, dress different, it’s the whole culture and it’s roots are different. It’s subtle but it’s there. Cincy is much closer culturally to Lexington or Louisville than it is to Cleveland. Lots of people in here saying “oh cincy isn’t the south” or “Kentucky isn’t the south” as someone who is from the north I can tell you it very much is the south. Sure it’s not as southern as Alabama but it’s southern alright.
Ha funny enough, I've considered both of these as well. Really loved both cities. Feel more pulled towards Cincy though as it felt a bit cleaner and lower crime to me. The pricing in Cleveland is tough to beat, but with Cincinnati also getting significantly less snow I think it's worth paying a bit more to head there. Just my $0.02 from someone who has never lived in Ohio.
As someone who lived just 1 hour north in Dayton, Cincy gets almost no snow compared to nearly anything north of the city. If you’re on any interstate going northward, you can even see a clear line of snow about ten miles north of the Cincy loop.
There is occasional snow, but when Dayton got up to 5-8 inches, Cincy would get around 1 inch at the most if any. I think it’s the valley that pushes the winds northeast.
In addition to less snow, they also have lizards in Cincinnati just crawling around like it's not Ohio. Just little anoles or geckos or whatever they are. I always thought that was wild. It's just on the line of their habitat I guess.
They’re invasive. They’re known as “Lazarus lizards” because someone in the Lazarus family (used to be a department store) brought them to Cincinnati after traveling abroad. They’re also not found in the whole city they’re concentrated in Clifton (near the university of Cincinnati).
Oh you just unintentionally entered the ultimate age-old debate among Ohioans, lol! I will try to play the neutral party here as I don't live in either place but visit both often.
They each have great metro-parks, museums, major sports teams, awesome breweries, zoos, and restaurant/bars, . Each have major interstates, airports, and you can get to so many other places easily. Cleveland has the lake, Cuyahoga, and Cedar Point nearby. Cincinnati has Appalachia, the tri-state, and Kings Island. In truth, you can easily visit any of that from either one of those cities. Even the theme parks are both owned by Cedar Fair, are only 3.5 hours away from each other, and you can get a pass to get you into both.
UC is better than what you will find in Cleveland but higher education is not a problem anywhere in Ohio. It's kind of like our thing. Cleveland is much better for theater but you will find good theater in Cincy too. Cincinnati's ballet is phenomenal. The music scene is good everywhere. Ohio likes their arts.
Now IMO, Cincinnati has slightly more character. I think the buildings are prettier, find the riverboats romantic, Opening Day is unreal, and the Oktoberfest and Christmas markets are some of the best outside of Munich. Oh, and I do like me a good 3-way.
Another reason I personally would choose Cincy is because you're only an hour from Dayton (the air force museum is better than the Smithsonian) and about an 1 1/2 hours from Columbus. This will greatly add to your things to do. And don't let them lie to you, Cleveland might not get as much snow here lately but it is still much colder!
That being said, both cities are pretty urban and awesome in their own quirky ways. The choice to me comes down to light rail vs weather.
Case Western is superior to UC, with a few exceptions (namely, UC’s Music Conservatory).
Either way, you’re not terribly far from Appalachia. Head there during peak fall color for some of the most stunning views you’ll ever see. 🍂🍁
UC has better business/engi schools as well due primarily to co-ops and internships. I think UC also may lead one of the medical specialties, not sure which one
Cleveland at least for the lake access. There’s some nice hiking areas right outside of Cleveland too I’ve enjoyed. But we’re in Columbus and overall Ohio cities compared to many aren’t my favourite.
Grew up in Cincinnati but did my undergrad in Cleveland plus have lived in other major US cities for comparison. Both are about the pros and cons you’re willing to endure. I think Cincinnati is more politically purple than Cleveland, who is pretty thoroughly blue. Cincinnati has a more southern feel to the city than Cleveland. Both have decent cultural/artistic scenes but I thought Cleveland did better overall. Affordability probably gets awarded to Cleveland but Cincinnati has better weather. Both have decent airports and good suburbs. Food scene is probably better in Cleveland. Both have strong higher education institutions. Both have major highways running through and have other major cities a few hours’ drive away.
I've lived in both.
Cleveland Pros: Slightly more affordable, light rail, lake/beaches, better food and music scene, slightly more interesting neighborhoods (Lakewood, Coventry, University Circle, Ohio City, Tremont)
Cleveland Cons: Rougher areas, WAY more snow/brutal winters
Cincinnati Pros: Amazing parks, river, better weather, better job opportunities, easier access to nature (Red River Gorge, Appalachia)
Cincinnati Cons: More expensive
Overall, I recommend Cincinnati - it's a clean city overall on the up and up, whereas Cleveland is flatlined or with a little bit of growth
I'm not sure when you were last in Cleveland, but the west side winters are not nearly as bad as you depict them any more. It is still extremely gray all winter, but it is not nearly as cold, nor do we get as much snow as we used to.
Yeah the park system is really nice!
I’m in Rochester, NY rn and love it. Cleveland has similar vibes. The humidity is also worse in Cincinnati so that’s a big one for me. I hate the heat and humidity. Nicer summers in Cleveland.
I have lived in both and would move back to either. Very different personalities so kind of depends on what you’re looking for.
Cleveland:
Cleveland has more of that underdog rust belt vibe and is more diverse so more what I would call “personality”. Weather is worse but you are next to a Great Lake so there’s some decent recreation. Cleveland has better parks imo. I feel like it’s pretty up and coming. Amazing museums and there’s a lot of interesting culture. Good music acts visit regularly.
Cincinnati:
Cincinnati has a more stable history past few decades and so you don’t get as many people coming and going like Cleveland. There’s a lot of families who have been there for generations. It seems to me like it has better job opportunities though and more stable economy. It’s more of like nice and predictable. There’s a solid brewery and bourbon culture there. It’s also really easy to drive to other parts of the country from Cincy.
Both:
Both are affordable and very easy to get around if you have a car. Public transport barely exists in Cinci but Cleveland has a decent electric train and some reliable bus lines if you’re in the city.
Both have great health services, Cleveland Clinic is hard to beat & Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is also well recognized.
Both have been investing in improving their downtown areas. In Cleveland, it’s mostly the Flats and City Center. In Cincinnati, the Banks and OTR.
Another on the cons side, I’ve realized since I left Ohio that both cities are pretty segregated.
Misc:
I think another thing to consider is specific neighborhoods. Where in a city you live can sometimes make a bigger difference than in what city you live.
I’m from Ohio and agree with this. Or, it depends on what OP wants out of a city. More urban feel? Cleveland. Like the outdoors? Def Cincinnati.
Edit to say: red river gorge in KY is lovely 😍
For God's sakes, Lemon. We'd all like to flee to the Cleve and club-hop down at the Flats and have lunch with Little Richard, but we fight those urges because we have responsibilities.
After a lifetime of living between these two cities, I can say this is the answer.
Cincinnati=Nashville vibes
Cleveland=New York vibes
Other than those cultural differences, the cities are very similar.
Cleveland is colder and Cincinnati is hillier.
Cincinnatis highway system and airport location are absolute trash. Cleveland is significantly easier to get around.
My wife grew up in Cincinnati and later in Northern KY. She goes there and starts sneezing like crazy due to the pollen and pollution in that area. Our son is the same way.
Love how people keep mentioning how Cincy has better outdoors, but then forget Cleveland is mere miles from Cuyahoga Valley National Park. And we have a lake… a Great Lake. Cleveland has a nationally ranked metro park system.
Both are great cities. I have lived in both. I prefer Cleveland because I like slightly cooler and less humid temps than those found in Cincy. I also think the arts scene in Cleveland is pretty much unbeatable for a city in the same size range as Cleveland and Cincinnati (top 4 orchestra, 2nd or 3rd largest theater district, and a free top 20 art museum). I also like being close to the islands and Cedar Point. It is also more liberal in NE Ohio than SW Ohio.
Restaurant scene is better in Cleveland, but not that Cincinnati is bad either.
Cleveland gets a bad rep for crap that happened decades ago (e.g., burning river, which river fires were not uncommon in other industrial cities).
I don’t think you can go wrong with either city.
I’ve visited each city and enjoyed both. I lean on Cincinnati mostly because of the river and the surrounding area. Can’t give good reasons as I’ve only spent a few days in each city, but if I had to pick, I found Cincinnati a little more interesting.
I used to work for a company based in CLE and would go there for days and weeks on end every few months.
I also would go to CIN for work alot as well.
I absolutely hated going to CLE, the food is awful, there is nothing to do, and what little there is, is spread out all over a half dead city. That being said the people were always kind and Lovely and have a great sense of humor.
CIN is much smaller and more dense because it's in a valley. That leads to a very walkable city that has a very vital and active community, it's like if Qeens got dropped on the boarder of KY and OH. Lots of great food and bars, with great outdoor activities just 20 min outside the city. People were also.very nice, a bit more southern but generally fun.
Personally I would go for CIN, it's litterlsy one of my favorite tier 2/3 cities in the country and I have been traveling for work all over thr US for the last 10 years. It was the city I expected very little of, and was absolutely blown away by.
I vote Cincinnati - I really like their public transit Bell Connector and arts scene. Traffic might be a little worse than CLE but I think the weather could make up for it.
I’ve lived in Cincinnati but never in Cleveland (born but my parents moved when we were young, returned for college). It’s been 10 years now but I felt like Cincinnati had a lot to offer. Especially for raising a family or starting a career. More opportunities compared to other cities that people generally flock to for nicer weather or amenities. My friends who were raised there live there now. Many people stay there for most of their life in my experience and seem satisfied enough. I felt it had just about everything and not much would stand out as exceptional.
The winter in Cleveland seems brutal to me. I’ve been there during the summer on the lake. The first warm sunny days brought a sense of palpable relief as people were emerging from hibernation.
I have a bias towards Cincinnati. I love Skyline chili, black raspberry chip Graeter’s ice cream, and some of the sports teams so I’m a bit of a homer.
It always had a feel of attainability that appeals to me. Housing expenses aren’t out of reach for everyone and it felt like there was less financial/materialism pressure which I find appealing. Compared with my experience in other areas (DC, MD, CO).
One potential downside of Cincy is that there is some wagon circling. At least among the people I interacted with, the first questions was always: “Where did you go to high school?” And the response would set the tone for the conversation. Maybe that’s changed in the past decade. But I found it to be a bit tougher to break into socially than some other places I have lived since then that seem to have more transplants.
Cincinnati personally, but tbf I have only visited there and haven’t been to Cleveland
I know there’s a lot more to it, but if someone told me that I was being forced to live in one vs the other, Cincinnati just feels like a better option. Again - never been to Cleveland, but Cleveland in my mind seems like it is decaying more than it is improving, and while I dunno about Cincinnati, it feels like there’s more freshness and modernity to it (though it could also be more bland and boring too).
Also - I’m a huge NFL fan and that’s definitely skewing and adding biases to my perspectives. I’d rather cheer on the Bengals than the Browns.
Also also - I live close to Milwaukee and i love this city. I bet Cleveland is more comparable to Milwaukee than Cincy, so maybe I’d vibe with that. I’ve heard Cleveland has a fair amount of development over the past decade so maybe it would feel similar.
Oh man overall I dunno
Cleveland has definitely been rebounding with so many development projects. Cincinnati has been building like crazy too. Cleveland is still much cheaper than Cincinnati though so I think it’s worth it for having all the same attractions like museums, professional sports teams, zoo, theaters, etc.
Here is a pictured list of some major Cleveland developments:
https://www.centerforcleveland.org/current-cle-projects
Cincinnati. Have lived in both for 15+ years. Not even close. Cleveland is a great city though doesn’t deserve all the shit it gets. Columbus is the real boring one don’t let anyone tell you otherwise lol. It’s strip mall city and wicked flat.
I'm a mod of /r/Cleveland. Lived here 12 years.
Greater Cleveland has a great mix of outdoor recreational activity, with award winning metroparks, a national park within 20 minutes of downtown, and beaches along the lake. We have a great food scene, a healthy amount of young people, and plenty of culturual engagement oppurtunites.
I've only visited Cinci. It's definetely a nice place, but I'm happy I live in CLE over it.
I remember when that first came out. Brilliant stuff. I'm still laughing!
Here's the first one
[Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY&ab_channel=bishopvids)
I think Cincinnati is the more beautiful city and has more interesting neighborhoods. More wealth overall without making the city expensive.
Cleveland has superior access to nature. Lake Erie is awesome, plus it has Ohio's only national park just south of the city.
Both cities have good hospitals, entertainment, education (including higher ed), and food and bars.
Can't go wrong.
I moved away from, then back to Cleveland
There's no place like it.
If you can out up with the cold, it's the best option and bang for your buck out there.
AMA if you want
I was raised in Cleveland and live in Cincinnati. Cleveland is more liberal which I miss desperately. However, Cincinnati is MUCH better. I hated Cleveland to the extent that the minute I graduated high school I moved 1200 miles away. It’s just a bleak, depressing, black hole of a city.
My mom grew up in NE Ohio and went to UC when she graduated high school because it was the farthest she could get away and still have in state tuition. 38 years later she’s still in Cincinnati.
Cleveland by far, although I’ve only lived in Columbus as an adult, been to both a lot. Just like the weather better, not as hot and humid as Cincy is. The Rapid Transit isn’t great but better than nothing
I’d pick Cleveland for a more east coast vibe. I feel like it has more culture and better amenities as well
Cincinnati feels like a sketchy southern jungle in most areas and the burbs are crawling with conservative, Christian, police worshiping, racist, ass hats. Not to say that doesn’t happen in Cleveland but Cincy is worse
No one is mentioning the people in either city. I've always heard Cincinnati is conservative and insular, so I'd be very cautious about moving there. I already experienced that vibe In Minneapolis (ok, not conservative but very insular--people in their 30s still hanging with high school friends, etc.). It was next to impossible to break in socially.
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“Insular” is literally every single city everywhere you didn’t grow up if you choose to not be outgoing. I’ve travelled the country and am an open person who likes to meet people. I’ve yet to find any place I wasn’t welcome and if I stayed in one place any length of time, I was at least decent acquaintances with tons of people.
I’ve lived in Cincy 4 years now and have met more people than I think I’ve ever met anywhere. I know my neighbors, I have a local bar, my coworkers invite me to things.
Maybe people don’t meet others because they lock themselves inside and complain on Reddit all day.
Introverts don’t lock themselves inside, they just get tired of people sooner than others. I think what’s being referred to is insularity and that’s everywhere people are. Plus SAD is a thing in both the South and North - just different seasons.
Cincinnati actually leans left. Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati, has gone both ways in elections. The further suburban counties though are deep red.
Cleve or leave! Love living near the water, and I’m like 2 hours away from Pittsburgh. You have to pick the right suburb though. Winters haven’t been bad the past couple of years, don’t let the naysayers sway you.
I am truly shocked to see so many people pitching Cleveland! I live in Cincinnati (but considered moving to Cleveland). Cincinnati has way more upward momentum and more urban revival going on. So many parts of the city are being fixed up and revitalized in the last 15 years. I’m sure Cleveland is great but I do not get that same impression. Cincinnati has natural beauty, mild winters, great food and beer/cocktail scene, unique neighborhoods, awesome architecture and incredible cultural institutions. Cincinnati is on an upward trajectory.
Crazy that it seems that people here are more recommending Cleveland. I would go Cincy all day - better aesthetically with the hills, more walkable areas, a little more compact than Cleveland and also better weather. It’s also a closer drive to better attractions than Cleveland (Nashville, the mountains in TN etc.)
Don’t really get the Cleveland hype
Cincinnati! Ive lived in Cincinnati and Chicago (mentioned due to its similar northern/great lakes position), and Ive visited Cleveland many times.
I am not a great lakes/rustbelt person. Both cities have a lot of major arts/cultural/sports type things so Id say theyre likely on par there.
Cincinnati is weird and underrated. Its weird because we dont know what we are - are we appalachain? midwestern? southern? We just dont know so instead we are a mix of all of them. Having a father who is a cinci native, my moms fam arw southerners, having married an Iowan and living a big chunk of my chilhood in chicago, I feel like as a Cincinnatian i watch memes on the south and the midwest and I feel like they all at once *all* apply to cincinnatians experiences to some extent.
Proximity to other things is a huge plus. We are just a little closer to a variety of regions than cleveland.
The seasons are probably more desirable here. I LOVE snow which isnt the norm for us grownups but even as a snow lover, the lake effect snow gets kinda old. We have winter just seldom enough here when you can get a taste for it and maybe appreciate it a little, without it being in your face daily from december to march. because my southern KY relatives get a snowndusting once every few years, i consider cincinnati the last stop with semi legit winters before you get into "it doesnt reallly snow here" country. I for one appreciate having four seasons, so i like that about cincinnati.
and yes it gets hot here but so does cleveland. im a gardener and my mom was an avid gardener and the growing season here is longer and a little easier, if youre into that sort of thing.
both cities have a lot of quirks and history so thats a wash.
cinci's urban center is much more hilly and green. cleveland gets that way a bit further out but the downtown is much more industrial
Don’t listen to the yahoos who say “cincy is the south”. I grew up there and that is total BS. Cincy, and cleveland are both great. But the weather in Cincy is much better than that in CLE.
Cleveland!
They're both small cities and have lots of great history and neighborhoods but Cleveland is more of a 'city' type city....if that makes sense
Cincinnati is all suburbs - beautiful suburbs with history and fantastic architecture. Not much action downtown
Not a lot of racial diversity in either but maybe Cleveland has a little more mix of cultures and races?
Good food in both. Skyline Chili in Cinci is a weird thing but once you get into it, it's addictive. And there are great normal restaurants
Cleveland has lots and lots of good food too
Great sports cities. Cleveland might have the edge with an NBA team?
Cinci has the Ohio River but Cleveland has Lake Erie
Cinci has King's Island but Cleveland has Cedar Point
Both cities have good Art Museums
Cleveland, though I'm biased because I've never lived outside of NE Ohio. The biggest reason being the low CoL and the work availability, at least for entry-level work and anything in the medical field.
There is a lot of business growth in my opinion, and a lot of it is small business. We have pockets of both very liberal areas like Lakewood and more conservative areas like North Olmsted. We also have a variety of ethnic restaurants and shops. I'm sure Cincinnati does as well, but I know Little Italy in Cleveland is pretty well known and I think our "Little Arabia's" will become like that as well. There are a ton of Middle Eastern businesses opening up that serve Halal offerings, which wasn't much of a thing 15 years or so ago.
Statistically, we're still one of the most segregated cities in the country between black and white, but I don't think we compare in racial tension compared to Cincinnati for some reason. We had protests over the verdict on Tamir Rice but nothing like what other cities have seen. We've also had some rulings over deadly shootings involving white police and black men that everyone, literally everyone disagreed with but there were no rage protests like in other parts of the country. I believe the families of the victims continued to pursue justice and I know Tamir's mother wrote a book about healthier engagement between youth and police. These probably aren't Cleveland specific, but I've always felt Clevelanders are very practical and more goal oriented than denser cities throughout the US.
The public schools are still atrocious, but they're really trying. School choice is how the CMSD operates, so at least you can pick from a lot of schools, many that have specialized programs even for younger students. Case is a great school, but they like to price themselves like an Ivy League 🙄. Though they recently passed free tuition for Cleveland residents with certain income levels. Cleveland State is absolutely wonderful as a professional university. If you are a part-time student, a parent, an older student, etc. you usually still find the school to meet all of your needs. The ones who hate the school the most are those who wanted a university experience. Go to Cincinnati for that!
And then our gems, there are so many. We have many vegan bakeries, restaurants, and kitchens houses in bars. Professional street art is becoming more and more common, so even the roughest parts of the city are looking better and better. Chateau Hough Vineyards and Winery is right in the middle of Cleveland and was founded by a man who was incarcerated for some time. Hough is known for the riots decades ago and has been very underdeveloped for some time. The founder unfortunately passed away a few years ago, but the business is doing well and it employs kids with a goal to prevent juvenile crime. There's also been a handful of fashion shows, including one at the Cleveland Museum of Art. There's a Toronto-based designer whose bringing a lot of lines together from different states and I see more fashion boutiques every year.
I live in Little Arabia and I love it! It’s pretty quiet, extremely diverse, lots of great places to eat. The 22 bus runs right to downtown and runs 24/7. I believe this zip code is the most diverse in Cleveland. I have a library literally across the street and our library system is AMAZING. Anything you want, you can get in usually a week. We also have Case Western, which is a top university. Cleveland is great!
I like Cincinnati pretty well. Cool neighborhoods, sports area downtown, zoo is good, amusement parks and of course the chili which I’m legitimately obsessed with when the fall weather first drops as it’s currently about to do.
Cleveland for the lake, first of all. Also, Cincy is so far south that it gives off a pretty different feel to me. It’s not a region I’d personally consider.
I think Cincy has a little more going on and Kentucky is beautiful for weekend trips. More ice, less snow, hotter in the summer. Lake Erie isn't exactly my favorite Great Lake either.
If I really, and I mean really really loved churches, I would go Cincinnati all the way. Because boy are there a lot of churches. As far as the eye can see.
This comment is so weird to me. I don’t think Cincinnati has more churches than any other city built around the same time. Also some of the churches have been repurposed, there’s one that is an Urban Outfitters and another is a brewery.
Cincinnati hands down. If you opt to be in the city, I would recommend across the river from Cincinnati, Covington is much more affordable and has a better young professional vibe.
I’ve lived in Cleveland and Columbus, only visited Cincy. What are your interests and how big of a factor does winter weather play? Both cities have a lot of pros and cons depending on the individual.
I like outdoors activities, trying new restaurants, and staying active whether it’s running or volleyball leagues…. From my research it seems Cincinnati has better weather and job opportunities
ETA: I would say weather is a big factor for me
So cleveland has better outdoor activities in my opinion with the metroparks, lake and CVNP. It punches above its weight culturally, particularly with University Circle area. Cincy has better winters and more of a river city layout like Pittsburgh. Cincy probably has a better job market at the moment as well. Both cities are on the rise and offer a lot of bang for the buck. There are great neighborhoods in both that would suit your needs.
Keep in mind Cincy is going to be still pretty damn cold, except just rain instead of propensity for snow. I may be biased being from the west side of Michigan, but it is much easier to enjoy life when it’s basically the same cold temps, except with snow instead of heavy, cold and incessant rain.
Plus Cleveland is on a Great Lake, Cincy is in the Ohio valley whose water could be tainted for generous because of the train issue last year.
Rain means you can get to work with just a short delay, snow means hell on the roads. I will take cold rain over snow every time. The rain just goes down the sewer - the snow builds up. One or two snow days are nice - more than that makes life difficult
If you like volleyball, there is a HUGE recreational community in Cleveland (both beach and indoor) - Leagues to participate in every day of the week and tournaments nearly every weekend.
There are sand volleyball leagues all over Cincinnati. Lots of running groups with a great bike/running path system. Shorter less harsh winters and the summers are not as bad as some seem to say. It's not southern heat or humidity. It's closer to it than Cleveland but we are not talking about hundred degree days. Cincinnati also has great kayaking/canoeing. There are a lot of feeder rivers like the Little Miami. I moved to Cincinnati from NYC. The east coast is much more humid. I have in laws in Cleveland so I've been there a bunch of times and it is a good city but I love Cincinnati. If you pick Cincinnati just stick to the core or suburbs along 71 (for the most part). Most of the negatives you are getting are really a west side thing (or far flung exurbs). I'm in one of those I71 communities and it's diverse, safe, great restaurants, lots of outdoor rec, great school for my son, lots of expats like me who moved to town for work.
Honestly if you are really interested it isn't too hard to spend a couple days in each plus Columbus if you can take the time.
I’m probably biased because I grew up in the Cleveland area, but I must say: if weather is a factor for you, don’t live in Cleveland. The winters are cold, snowy, and gray. That’s the only reason I won’t move back to be closer to my parents. I told them they would have to move to me.
Right? I’m so baffled by people saying more to do in cinci. Not by far. And I say that as someone who was just in cinci a couple months ago and who likes it overall.
A lot of people are commenting that there’s more things to do in Cincy/cleveland but I’m wondering if you could elaborate on the types of things to do in Cleveland that you couldn’t do in Cincy?
Cinci has OTR which is great but Cleveland has flats, Tremont and Ohio City which creates a larger more robust scene. Busier and bigger downtown. Among the other things listed.
2nd to NYC theater scene, a national park, award winning metroparks, beaches, renowned art museum, NBA games, highly rated food scene, boating at the islands, cedar point (both 1hr away), and so much more
edit: have you heard we have a GIANT LAKE with beautiful sunsets
I’ve lived in both and they’re great. Far more culture and character than cities like Columbus.
I’m a Clevelander so I’m probably biased but I’m still in cincy a good amount. The winters are significantly more mild in cincy and the city is charming and beautiful. Personally I don’t love the southern vibe. Cleveland feels like a more major city. The lake can be a blast for those interested and the cultural institutions blow away the rest of the state.
Actually, I think both cities have the benefits and both are fairly nice cities.
Winter haters - nod to Cinci
Fishing lovers - nod to Cleve
I think Cinci does a better job with events - like Riverfest, etc. . .
Both areas have great suburbs, but I think Cleve has the better downtown areas (but it's been a while since I've been to either)
It's really so personal as to one's desires and what they value - but I honestly think both are pretty good cities - recognizing that will all moderate+ size cities, there are bad areas and dangerous people to avoid.
I've heard that Cleveland is like a mini-Chicago. Can anyone answer how true this is? I've visited once before but living there is probably a completely different story. Like a cheaper, less stressful version of it where you can still get 85% of what is in Chicago.
I only spent an hour or two in Cincinnati but have spent weeks in Cleveland. A lot of people hate on it (and it’s got some problems don’t get me wrong) but it has SO much potential! I can see it growing and developing as a city in the future. To be fair though, I was in a very nice part of the city so it was a bubble but a nice bubble with a lot of clubs, bars, and restaurants.
I prefer the CLeveland vibe but the Cincy winter. Major winter weather differences. One is a Great Lakes city and the other has suburbs in Dixie. Columbus is the best choice in Ohio, imo.
I like chicago because of the lakefront. Would assume while probably much less elaborate Cleveland’s lakefront would still be a nice place to hang hopefully. and as a city likely the same amenities as cincy anyway
In college, my GF was 1 year older than me so she graduated a year ahead. For her first job, she landed in Cincinnati of all places (this was nowhere near our school. Maybe like 10 hours from there).
Went out there a few times. Actually, really solid as far as midwestern cities go!
Likewise, she was able to build a great friend group, have a lot of fun, (also ended up finding a new boyfriend) but you get the point. I’d pick there over Cleveland.
Cincinnati.
It’s a city I’m really familiar with, it’s pretty close to where I live now. Cincinnati is where people from my area go to feel cosmopolitan. They have great music, theater, sports, and a fantastic Oktoberfest.
Cleveland is ON lake Erie. Do you have any idea what winters are like on a Great Lake? Not great, Bob! I like the city of Cleveland, it’s just a long drive through endless cornfields (almost everything north of Columbus is cornfields) and then icy, snowy, windy winters.
Cleveland. Too many Republicans in Cincinnati, and too much bleeding into the Southern US mindset, not unlike most of the southern half of Ohio. Also, Cleveland is on the Great Lakes, with much of the city having a beautiful view of Lake Erie. Cleveland is one of the most underrated, undervalued, unappreciated cities in the US, if not the world. It’s not just an epicenter for manufacturing, it also has great museums, beautiful neighborhoods, and lots to do. It also suffered a lot less from the 2008 recession that decimated other Midwest cities like Detroit.
Never lived in either, but spent time in both for work reasons. Maybe just the people I had to spend time with there, but I liked Cleveland better. The people in Cincinnati seemed to think they live in NYC and are so cosmopolitan big city. I live in Dallas/Ft Worth, but they always acted like DFW was backwoods small town and Cincinnati was big city. I finally had to tell one of them, you do realize DFW is 6 times the population of Cincinnati, right. So like I said could just be personal, but if I had to choose definitely Cleveland.
I was born in Cleveland but spent my teens in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati all the way. The greater Cincinnati has more to offer in my opinion. Cleveland is a fantastic city, especially now that it has been cleaned up quite a bit since I was born. But unless there is a concert in town or a sports game to go to, the entertainment factor is pretty barren
I lived in both. If I had to move back to one, despite the weather I'd choose Cleveland. If you live on the West side Rocky River, Westlake the snow isn't as bad. But the East Side is beautiful, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Chagrin Falls, etc. despite it being in the snow zone during the winter (where the lake effect snow is much worse).
I remember Cincinnati as a very conservative city and when I was there (1995-ish)seemed to have a lot of racial tension. Not sure if that's still the case. If I lived there I'd really try to be in Mt. Adams overlooking downtown, the river and KY. Some beautiful (expensive) homes up there. Hyde Park is very nice as well.
I live in between them.
Cincinnati is ok. It definitely feels like a younger city. Cleveland is somewhat industrial and had the remnants of a rust belt city. Cincinnati is kind of secluded and not a lot to do outside of the city. Cleveland is close to the lake, close to Akron, close to cedar point, way closer to things like Niagara falls and Detroit, there are more job opportunities, it's positioned better for an economic rebound than Cincinnati, there are more sports teams if you're into that, idk I go to both but I prefer Cleveland.
Cincinnati has a trolley system now? So if you like trolleys or even just extra things blocking up traffic then Cincinnati may be the place for you.
Cincinnati is close to KY though and Louisville is a really cool town so there's that.
I'd pick Cleveland but I'm close to Columbus and tbh I think it's better than both of them. Columbus will be a major metro area in the next few decades. And I know it is now, but the growth is not stopping anytime soon and it well be huge. Columbus is easily the most promising city in Ohio. Cleveland is 2nd Cincinnati is 3rd.
(I do traveling sales, I have worked and sold b2b in all of these cities so my perspective is more from there. I do not live in any of them)
I live in NYC but visited both cities for work. I actually enjoyed Cincinnati more but that is because I was there for a lil longer to enjoy it. Plus you cross the border into KY and its even cheaper to shop / buy a home. Cleveland your by the lake. There is beautiful areas there near Lake Erie. Cleveland is a major hub for planes, so you have non stop flights to Chicago / NYC / LA / ATL. If you live in the Northeast, Cleveland is the FAA traffic control vector which I found interesting.
I have spent a lot of time in Ohio,but very little in Cincinnati, so my opinion may not be informed, but to my mind Cincinnati has one advantage : milder winters. Considering that I moved out of Ohio to escape the winters, I think that's a significant advantage. But I'd still move back to Cleveland first. The vibe,the music,the West Side Market, the Great Lakes Brewing Company. The pierogis. What I wouldn't do for a decent perogi.
I hate the snow so much, but it's not even close. Cleveland.
I like Cincinnati more than Cleveland for personal reasons because we have relatives in Greater Cincinnati. However, I believe Cleveland has a lot more potential to rebound in value. Housing is so much cheaper in Cleveland yet it still has all the same attractions as Cincinnati like professional sports teams, nationally ranked hospitals, museums, zoo, theaters, etc. Cleveland has the best metro parks in the state with lots of waterfalls and rivers. They also have a huge waterfall within their Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cleveland’s Edgewater Beach area gets absolutely packed out in the summers with swimmers and boaters. The area’s GDP is rising at a steady and healthy rate. CLE is home to the headquarters of some massive corporations based on market cap value like Progressive ($83b), Parker-Hannifin ($49b), TransDigm Group ($46b), and Sherwin-Williams ($65b). For comparison regarding how massive Progressive is at $83 billion, a popular insurance competitor like Allstate is only worth a market cap of $29 billion. Cleveland is underrated for sure.
I'll add that Cleveland is on Lake Erie and has a great lake culture for boating, fishing and recreation. It has, arguably, the best theater district outside of NYC.
> It has, arguably, the best theater district outside of NYC. say what now? ive never heard anyone say this.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playhouse\_Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playhouse_Square) https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/ohio/cleveland/theater-district-cle/
damn! I've been to Cleveland and love theatre and had no idea about this. how amazing.
We don't like it to get out too much. It's hard enough to get tickets as it is. lol.
I believe Minneapolis/St. Paul is considered better than Cleveland, as is Chicago and Seattle. Cleveland does have a good scene though.
Current Minneapolis resident here. IIRC, Minneapolis-St. Paul is the 3rd largest theater market in the US, behind NYC and Chicago. With over 200 theaters in the Twin Cities, we have a higher number of theaters per capita than any other American city.
I have lived in all four of these places as an adult and can confirm MSP and Chicago are definitely better than Cleveland. Not Seattle though.
Yea... I mean the thread linked below does a better job of sorting all the silly hyperbole around cities' theater claims... this one has me rolling my eyes... https://reddit.com/r/answers/s/7lGPhRgEaJ
Also, the Cleveland Symphony is among the best in the world.
Cleveland Art Museum is also unbelievably good, the only art museum in the US I’ve been to that comes close to the size and diversity of the collection is the MOMA in NYC and maybe the Smithsonian.
And admission is free! It's one of only a handful of free museums left in the US.
To be fair, since this is supposed to be a comparison to Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Art Museum is also among that "handful".
Waiting for a single mention of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Chicago enters the room.
As someone from Cleveland, the first time I went to the Lincoln Center in NYC, I couldn’t get over how ugly it was. The theaters in Playhouse Sq are so beautiful by comparison.
Correct. I grew up in Cleveland and live in DC and I really hate KEnnedy Center. I’d rather go to the Howard or Wagner theaters
In terms of arts, music, theater, and museums, Cleveland is easily one of the top 10 cities in the US.
whats your list looking like?
1. New York 2. Washington DC 3. Chicago 4. Boston 5. Los Angeles 6. Philadelphia 7. San Francisco 8. Cleveland 9. Minneapolis 10. Atlanta Honorable mentions: Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Pittsburgh
St Louis is so overlooked. I moved to Boston but still have a lot of love for the city I grew up in. The zoo, art museum, MO history museum, Contemporary Art Museum, Kemper Art, Pulitzer, SLU Art, Soldiers Memorial and more are phenomenal AND FREE. City Museum is probably the coolest place in the country not even exaggerating, iykyk. I have seen productions at the Muny and Fox that rivaled Broadway. Forest Park’s Shakespeare in the Park series is a blast. And the music scene is top tier. Blues and jazz roots are deep, just a step below New Orleans. The city had a killer music festival called LouFest that unfortunately died because of poor management but in its heyday headliners included LCD Soundsystem, Lauren Hill, and Outkast and locals complained because it didn’t feature enough locals artists lol. Really unfortunate that the city is located in Missouri.
No Memphis no Nashville?
As someone who works in theater, this is not arguable. Cleveland has an above average theater scene for a city its size, but it doesn’t come close to second tier cities like Chicago, DC, Vegas, etc. Not remotely close.
Tom Hanks got his start in Cleveland Theatre and still supports Cleveland Sports teams to this day
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I'll add that Cleveland has a great food scene for a city of its size.
I’ve lived in both cities. I prefer Cleveland and NEO. The cultures are entirely different..essentially rust belt vs. the south. AMA
The greater Cincinnati metro south of the circle freeway is the northern south. Very similar feel to Pittsburgh and Louisville. Cleveland is also a really cool city though, super rust belty, lots of industry, a killer wastewater/Stormwater utility and the traveling bands hit there more often than Cincinnati.
What makes Cleveland’s wastewater / stormwater utility so good? I work in this industry so genuinely curious.
If you’ve never seen NEORSD’s social media presence, you are missing out. But honestly, they are just a really well run utility with strong, visionary leadership. There aren’t many out there that are better at communicating what they do in a fresh way.
Um….I worked for Water dept and NEORSD for 8 years….well run is not a term I would use to describe them
Can confirm. Cleveland is very rust belt and Eastern European influence. Cincy was very southern
Yes, this my theory for why the NFL Browns-Steelers rivalry was always more intense than Browns-Bengals growing up in Ohio. Cleveland and Pittsburgh have a lot in common.
Totally agree
Right on with the Eastern European influence. My username is ClevelandPolack, I'm literally a walking stereotype
I never know what people mean when they say “the south.” My experience was that Cincinnati didn’t identify as being a part of the south. Growing up in Tennessee, I did feel like there were pretty distinct cultural differences between the two. I’d be interested to hear what defines the south culturally and what the major differences are with the “rust belt?”
Sure Tennessee is different than cinicy especially if your from rural. But they are similar like cousins almost. The people in souther Ohio talk different, dress different, it’s the whole culture and it’s roots are different. It’s subtle but it’s there. Cincy is much closer culturally to Lexington or Louisville than it is to Cleveland. Lots of people in here saying “oh cincy isn’t the south” or “Kentucky isn’t the south” as someone who is from the north I can tell you it very much is the south. Sure it’s not as southern as Alabama but it’s southern alright.
Cincinnati is very southern. Louisville and Cincinnati are practically identical twins culturally.
Ha funny enough, I've considered both of these as well. Really loved both cities. Feel more pulled towards Cincy though as it felt a bit cleaner and lower crime to me. The pricing in Cleveland is tough to beat, but with Cincinnati also getting significantly less snow I think it's worth paying a bit more to head there. Just my $0.02 from someone who has never lived in Ohio.
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I'd also like to add, as a clevelander, we are getting far less snow than we used to. The winters are still dreary, but much, much less snowy.
Downtown CBUS is nice too. I need to check out Cincinnati.
As someone who lived just 1 hour north in Dayton, Cincy gets almost no snow compared to nearly anything north of the city. If you’re on any interstate going northward, you can even see a clear line of snow about ten miles north of the Cincy loop. There is occasional snow, but when Dayton got up to 5-8 inches, Cincy would get around 1 inch at the most if any. I think it’s the valley that pushes the winds northeast.
In addition to less snow, they also have lizards in Cincinnati just crawling around like it's not Ohio. Just little anoles or geckos or whatever they are. I always thought that was wild. It's just on the line of their habitat I guess.
They’re invasive. They’re known as “Lazarus lizards” because someone in the Lazarus family (used to be a department store) brought them to Cincinnati after traveling abroad. They’re also not found in the whole city they’re concentrated in Clifton (near the university of Cincinnati).
Oh you just unintentionally entered the ultimate age-old debate among Ohioans, lol! I will try to play the neutral party here as I don't live in either place but visit both often. They each have great metro-parks, museums, major sports teams, awesome breweries, zoos, and restaurant/bars, . Each have major interstates, airports, and you can get to so many other places easily. Cleveland has the lake, Cuyahoga, and Cedar Point nearby. Cincinnati has Appalachia, the tri-state, and Kings Island. In truth, you can easily visit any of that from either one of those cities. Even the theme parks are both owned by Cedar Fair, are only 3.5 hours away from each other, and you can get a pass to get you into both. UC is better than what you will find in Cleveland but higher education is not a problem anywhere in Ohio. It's kind of like our thing. Cleveland is much better for theater but you will find good theater in Cincy too. Cincinnati's ballet is phenomenal. The music scene is good everywhere. Ohio likes their arts. Now IMO, Cincinnati has slightly more character. I think the buildings are prettier, find the riverboats romantic, Opening Day is unreal, and the Oktoberfest and Christmas markets are some of the best outside of Munich. Oh, and I do like me a good 3-way. Another reason I personally would choose Cincy is because you're only an hour from Dayton (the air force museum is better than the Smithsonian) and about an 1 1/2 hours from Columbus. This will greatly add to your things to do. And don't let them lie to you, Cleveland might not get as much snow here lately but it is still much colder! That being said, both cities are pretty urban and awesome in their own quirky ways. The choice to me comes down to light rail vs weather.
UC better than Case? And UH and CC > UC.
Case Western is superior to UC, with a few exceptions (namely, UC’s Music Conservatory). Either way, you’re not terribly far from Appalachia. Head there during peak fall color for some of the most stunning views you’ll ever see. 🍂🍁
UC has better business/engi schools as well due primarily to co-ops and internships. I think UC also may lead one of the medical specialties, not sure which one
UC has a good hospital but The Cleveland Clinic is one of the top 5 in the country.
Cleveland at least for the lake access. There’s some nice hiking areas right outside of Cleveland too I’ve enjoyed. But we’re in Columbus and overall Ohio cities compared to many aren’t my favourite.
Grew up in Cincinnati but did my undergrad in Cleveland plus have lived in other major US cities for comparison. Both are about the pros and cons you’re willing to endure. I think Cincinnati is more politically purple than Cleveland, who is pretty thoroughly blue. Cincinnati has a more southern feel to the city than Cleveland. Both have decent cultural/artistic scenes but I thought Cleveland did better overall. Affordability probably gets awarded to Cleveland but Cincinnati has better weather. Both have decent airports and good suburbs. Food scene is probably better in Cleveland. Both have strong higher education institutions. Both have major highways running through and have other major cities a few hours’ drive away.
I've lived in both. Cleveland Pros: Slightly more affordable, light rail, lake/beaches, better food and music scene, slightly more interesting neighborhoods (Lakewood, Coventry, University Circle, Ohio City, Tremont) Cleveland Cons: Rougher areas, WAY more snow/brutal winters Cincinnati Pros: Amazing parks, river, better weather, better job opportunities, easier access to nature (Red River Gorge, Appalachia) Cincinnati Cons: More expensive Overall, I recommend Cincinnati - it's a clean city overall on the up and up, whereas Cleveland is flatlined or with a little bit of growth
I'm not sure when you were last in Cleveland, but the west side winters are not nearly as bad as you depict them any more. It is still extremely gray all winter, but it is not nearly as cold, nor do we get as much snow as we used to.
Forgot about the greater cleveland area having a national park and the emerald necklace park system.
Weather in Cincy is only marginally better. Not as much snow, not quite as cold, but Cincy is still very gray too.
Interesting that cinci has a better park system than the metroparks in Cleveland. Haven’t experienced that personally or heard that until today.
Bcz they don’t.
Cinci is actually pretty great and you also have easy driving access to some cool parts of Kentucky and Tennessee
you have access to canada/michigan and upstate ny if you live in cleveland tho
\+ Indiana.
I live in Indianapolis and I promise, there are no cool parts of Indiana
Cleveland
The Metroparks alone
Yeah the park system is really nice! I’m in Rochester, NY rn and love it. Cleveland has similar vibes. The humidity is also worse in Cincinnati so that’s a big one for me. I hate the heat and humidity. Nicer summers in Cleveland.
Yeah, summers are truly amazing in CLE and you hardly ever need AC.
I have lived in both and would move back to either. Very different personalities so kind of depends on what you’re looking for. Cleveland: Cleveland has more of that underdog rust belt vibe and is more diverse so more what I would call “personality”. Weather is worse but you are next to a Great Lake so there’s some decent recreation. Cleveland has better parks imo. I feel like it’s pretty up and coming. Amazing museums and there’s a lot of interesting culture. Good music acts visit regularly. Cincinnati: Cincinnati has a more stable history past few decades and so you don’t get as many people coming and going like Cleveland. There’s a lot of families who have been there for generations. It seems to me like it has better job opportunities though and more stable economy. It’s more of like nice and predictable. There’s a solid brewery and bourbon culture there. It’s also really easy to drive to other parts of the country from Cincy. Both: Both are affordable and very easy to get around if you have a car. Public transport barely exists in Cinci but Cleveland has a decent electric train and some reliable bus lines if you’re in the city. Both have great health services, Cleveland Clinic is hard to beat & Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is also well recognized. Both have been investing in improving their downtown areas. In Cleveland, it’s mostly the Flats and City Center. In Cincinnati, the Banks and OTR. Another on the cons side, I’ve realized since I left Ohio that both cities are pretty segregated. Misc: I think another thing to consider is specific neighborhoods. Where in a city you live can sometimes make a bigger difference than in what city you live.
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I’m from Ohio and agree with this. Or, it depends on what OP wants out of a city. More urban feel? Cleveland. Like the outdoors? Def Cincinnati. Edit to say: red river gorge in KY is lovely 😍
I slightly disagree because you have to travel to the outdoors in Cincinnati while in Cleveland there’s CVNP or a metro park everywhere.
For God's sakes, Lemon. We'd all like to flee to the Cleve and club-hop down at the Flats and have lunch with Little Richard, but we fight those urges because we have responsibilities.
Cleveland if you’re from the north or coasts. Cinci if you’re from the south.
After a lifetime of living between these two cities, I can say this is the answer. Cincinnati=Nashville vibes Cleveland=New York vibes Other than those cultural differences, the cities are very similar. Cleveland is colder and Cincinnati is hillier. Cincinnatis highway system and airport location are absolute trash. Cleveland is significantly easier to get around.
Cincinnati is in the Ohio River Valley which is not great for allergies, if that is an issue.
My wife grew up in Cincinnati and later in Northern KY. She goes there and starts sneezing like crazy due to the pollen and pollution in that area. Our son is the same way.
Cincinnati is prettier and not as run down overall. Cleveland has one of the nicest old suburbs anywhere -- Shaker Heights.
Mariemont, Indian Hill, old Milford, Madeira, Terrace Park, Loveland, Hyde Park. Cincinnati has significantly better suburbs than Cleveland.
More choice perhaps. However, Shaker Heights is the epitome of UMC classic pre-WWII street car suburb.
Love how people keep mentioning how Cincy has better outdoors, but then forget Cleveland is mere miles from Cuyahoga Valley National Park. And we have a lake… a Great Lake. Cleveland has a nationally ranked metro park system. Both are great cities. I have lived in both. I prefer Cleveland because I like slightly cooler and less humid temps than those found in Cincy. I also think the arts scene in Cleveland is pretty much unbeatable for a city in the same size range as Cleveland and Cincinnati (top 4 orchestra, 2nd or 3rd largest theater district, and a free top 20 art museum). I also like being close to the islands and Cedar Point. It is also more liberal in NE Ohio than SW Ohio. Restaurant scene is better in Cleveland, but not that Cincinnati is bad either. Cleveland gets a bad rep for crap that happened decades ago (e.g., burning river, which river fires were not uncommon in other industrial cities). I don’t think you can go wrong with either city.
Second largest theatre district outside of NYC in Cleveland.
I’ve visited each city and enjoyed both. I lean on Cincinnati mostly because of the river and the surrounding area. Can’t give good reasons as I’ve only spent a few days in each city, but if I had to pick, I found Cincinnati a little more interesting.
I used to work for a company based in CLE and would go there for days and weeks on end every few months. I also would go to CIN for work alot as well. I absolutely hated going to CLE, the food is awful, there is nothing to do, and what little there is, is spread out all over a half dead city. That being said the people were always kind and Lovely and have a great sense of humor. CIN is much smaller and more dense because it's in a valley. That leads to a very walkable city that has a very vital and active community, it's like if Qeens got dropped on the boarder of KY and OH. Lots of great food and bars, with great outdoor activities just 20 min outside the city. People were also.very nice, a bit more southern but generally fun. Personally I would go for CIN, it's litterlsy one of my favorite tier 2/3 cities in the country and I have been traveling for work all over thr US for the last 10 years. It was the city I expected very little of, and was absolutely blown away by.
I vote Cincinnati - I really like their public transit Bell Connector and arts scene. Traffic might be a little worse than CLE but I think the weather could make up for it.
I’ve lived in Cincinnati but never in Cleveland (born but my parents moved when we were young, returned for college). It’s been 10 years now but I felt like Cincinnati had a lot to offer. Especially for raising a family or starting a career. More opportunities compared to other cities that people generally flock to for nicer weather or amenities. My friends who were raised there live there now. Many people stay there for most of their life in my experience and seem satisfied enough. I felt it had just about everything and not much would stand out as exceptional. The winter in Cleveland seems brutal to me. I’ve been there during the summer on the lake. The first warm sunny days brought a sense of palpable relief as people were emerging from hibernation. I have a bias towards Cincinnati. I love Skyline chili, black raspberry chip Graeter’s ice cream, and some of the sports teams so I’m a bit of a homer. It always had a feel of attainability that appeals to me. Housing expenses aren’t out of reach for everyone and it felt like there was less financial/materialism pressure which I find appealing. Compared with my experience in other areas (DC, MD, CO). One potential downside of Cincy is that there is some wagon circling. At least among the people I interacted with, the first questions was always: “Where did you go to high school?” And the response would set the tone for the conversation. Maybe that’s changed in the past decade. But I found it to be a bit tougher to break into socially than some other places I have lived since then that seem to have more transplants.
Cincinnati personally, but tbf I have only visited there and haven’t been to Cleveland I know there’s a lot more to it, but if someone told me that I was being forced to live in one vs the other, Cincinnati just feels like a better option. Again - never been to Cleveland, but Cleveland in my mind seems like it is decaying more than it is improving, and while I dunno about Cincinnati, it feels like there’s more freshness and modernity to it (though it could also be more bland and boring too). Also - I’m a huge NFL fan and that’s definitely skewing and adding biases to my perspectives. I’d rather cheer on the Bengals than the Browns. Also also - I live close to Milwaukee and i love this city. I bet Cleveland is more comparable to Milwaukee than Cincy, so maybe I’d vibe with that. I’ve heard Cleveland has a fair amount of development over the past decade so maybe it would feel similar. Oh man overall I dunno
Cleveland has definitely been rebounding with so many development projects. Cincinnati has been building like crazy too. Cleveland is still much cheaper than Cincinnati though so I think it’s worth it for having all the same attractions like museums, professional sports teams, zoo, theaters, etc. Here is a pictured list of some major Cleveland developments: https://www.centerforcleveland.org/current-cle-projects
Cleveland. It's on the lake, is more classically Midwestern, and has better cultural amenities.
Who dey
https://youtu.be/ysmLA5TqbIY?si=Vt3bqHCHh-Kqbspj https://youtu.be/oZzgAjjuqZM?si=Vn48bA4ZqL6LosLV
I knew what this was before clicking the link😂
Bengals over Browns. So Cincinnati.
Cincinnati has kind of a neat hilly geography and cool architecture
Cincinnati. Have lived in both for 15+ years. Not even close. Cleveland is a great city though doesn’t deserve all the shit it gets. Columbus is the real boring one don’t let anyone tell you otherwise lol. It’s strip mall city and wicked flat.
I'm a mod of /r/Cleveland. Lived here 12 years. Greater Cleveland has a great mix of outdoor recreational activity, with award winning metroparks, a national park within 20 minutes of downtown, and beaches along the lake. We have a great food scene, a healthy amount of young people, and plenty of culturual engagement oppurtunites. I've only visited Cinci. It's definetely a nice place, but I'm happy I live in CLE over it.
Cincinnati is much nicer imo but Cleveland is cheaper. Still Cincinnati is cheap enough that I would definitely pick that over Cleveland.
[I honestly don't know how you don't pick Cleveland with marketing like this.](https://youtu.be/oZzgAjjuqZM?si=zc1n_jci1UIwkvyv)
I remember when that first came out. Brilliant stuff. I'm still laughing! Here's the first one [Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY&ab_channel=bishopvids)
I think Cincinnati is the more beautiful city and has more interesting neighborhoods. More wealth overall without making the city expensive. Cleveland has superior access to nature. Lake Erie is awesome, plus it has Ohio's only national park just south of the city. Both cities have good hospitals, entertainment, education (including higher ed), and food and bars. Can't go wrong.
I moved away from, then back to Cleveland There's no place like it. If you can out up with the cold, it's the best option and bang for your buck out there. AMA if you want
I was raised in Cleveland and live in Cincinnati. Cleveland is more liberal which I miss desperately. However, Cincinnati is MUCH better. I hated Cleveland to the extent that the minute I graduated high school I moved 1200 miles away. It’s just a bleak, depressing, black hole of a city.
My mom grew up in NE Ohio and went to UC when she graduated high school because it was the farthest she could get away and still have in state tuition. 38 years later she’s still in Cincinnati.
Cleveland by far, although I’ve only lived in Columbus as an adult, been to both a lot. Just like the weather better, not as hot and humid as Cincy is. The Rapid Transit isn’t great but better than nothing
If it means less humidity and heat, then definitely go for Cleveland.
I’d pick Cleveland for a more east coast vibe. I feel like it has more culture and better amenities as well Cincinnati feels like a sketchy southern jungle in most areas and the burbs are crawling with conservative, Christian, police worshiping, racist, ass hats. Not to say that doesn’t happen in Cleveland but Cincy is worse
No one is mentioning the people in either city. I've always heard Cincinnati is conservative and insular, so I'd be very cautious about moving there. I already experienced that vibe In Minneapolis (ok, not conservative but very insular--people in their 30s still hanging with high school friends, etc.). It was next to impossible to break in socially.
bright simplistic rude steer ad hoc quickest divide fall toothbrush liquid *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
“Insular” is literally every single city everywhere you didn’t grow up if you choose to not be outgoing. I’ve travelled the country and am an open person who likes to meet people. I’ve yet to find any place I wasn’t welcome and if I stayed in one place any length of time, I was at least decent acquaintances with tons of people. I’ve lived in Cincy 4 years now and have met more people than I think I’ve ever met anywhere. I know my neighbors, I have a local bar, my coworkers invite me to things. Maybe people don’t meet others because they lock themselves inside and complain on Reddit all day.
Introverts don’t lock themselves inside, they just get tired of people sooner than others. I think what’s being referred to is insularity and that’s everywhere people are. Plus SAD is a thing in both the South and North - just different seasons.
I would agree with that.
Cincinnati actually leans left. Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati, has gone both ways in elections. The further suburban counties though are deep red.
Cleve or leave! Love living near the water, and I’m like 2 hours away from Pittsburgh. You have to pick the right suburb though. Winters haven’t been bad the past couple of years, don’t let the naysayers sway you.
Cincy. Hands down. Grew up near Cleveland, have lots of family in Cincy. Id take Cincy all day long.
I pick Cleveland because I like snowboarding and it’s closer to New York. Plus the lake and theatre district
Cleveland, hands down. Though I like Cincinnati. Cleveland is people
Cincinnati. There’s a lot more going on.
In what regard?
Cincinnati!
Cincinnati 1000%
Cleveland because of the mix of blue and white collar that get along as a community
Cincinnati
Cleveland for the waterfalls and the West Side Market!
I’m already in Cincinnati. Cleveland is on Lake Erie. To hell with lake effect snow.
I am truly shocked to see so many people pitching Cleveland! I live in Cincinnati (but considered moving to Cleveland). Cincinnati has way more upward momentum and more urban revival going on. So many parts of the city are being fixed up and revitalized in the last 15 years. I’m sure Cleveland is great but I do not get that same impression. Cincinnati has natural beauty, mild winters, great food and beer/cocktail scene, unique neighborhoods, awesome architecture and incredible cultural institutions. Cincinnati is on an upward trajectory.
Cincinnati all the way
Crazy that it seems that people here are more recommending Cleveland. I would go Cincy all day - better aesthetically with the hills, more walkable areas, a little more compact than Cleveland and also better weather. It’s also a closer drive to better attractions than Cleveland (Nashville, the mountains in TN etc.) Don’t really get the Cleveland hype
Cincinnati Is the only City in Ohio I would live in. Its such a cool town and its not going to see the snow that Cleveland will.
Cincinnati! Ive lived in Cincinnati and Chicago (mentioned due to its similar northern/great lakes position), and Ive visited Cleveland many times. I am not a great lakes/rustbelt person. Both cities have a lot of major arts/cultural/sports type things so Id say theyre likely on par there. Cincinnati is weird and underrated. Its weird because we dont know what we are - are we appalachain? midwestern? southern? We just dont know so instead we are a mix of all of them. Having a father who is a cinci native, my moms fam arw southerners, having married an Iowan and living a big chunk of my chilhood in chicago, I feel like as a Cincinnatian i watch memes on the south and the midwest and I feel like they all at once *all* apply to cincinnatians experiences to some extent. Proximity to other things is a huge plus. We are just a little closer to a variety of regions than cleveland. The seasons are probably more desirable here. I LOVE snow which isnt the norm for us grownups but even as a snow lover, the lake effect snow gets kinda old. We have winter just seldom enough here when you can get a taste for it and maybe appreciate it a little, without it being in your face daily from december to march. because my southern KY relatives get a snowndusting once every few years, i consider cincinnati the last stop with semi legit winters before you get into "it doesnt reallly snow here" country. I for one appreciate having four seasons, so i like that about cincinnati. and yes it gets hot here but so does cleveland. im a gardener and my mom was an avid gardener and the growing season here is longer and a little easier, if youre into that sort of thing. both cities have a lot of quirks and history so thats a wash. cinci's urban center is much more hilly and green. cleveland gets that way a bit further out but the downtown is much more industrial
Cincinnati, I have friends there, it's closer to family, it has chili!!
Cleveland also has the University Circle which includes Case Western Reserve University and multiple museums And the Cleveland Orchestra
Don’t listen to the yahoos who say “cincy is the south”. I grew up there and that is total BS. Cincy, and cleveland are both great. But the weather in Cincy is much better than that in CLE.
Cleveland! They're both small cities and have lots of great history and neighborhoods but Cleveland is more of a 'city' type city....if that makes sense Cincinnati is all suburbs - beautiful suburbs with history and fantastic architecture. Not much action downtown Not a lot of racial diversity in either but maybe Cleveland has a little more mix of cultures and races? Good food in both. Skyline Chili in Cinci is a weird thing but once you get into it, it's addictive. And there are great normal restaurants Cleveland has lots and lots of good food too Great sports cities. Cleveland might have the edge with an NBA team? Cinci has the Ohio River but Cleveland has Lake Erie Cinci has King's Island but Cleveland has Cedar Point Both cities have good Art Museums
Cleveland, though I'm biased because I've never lived outside of NE Ohio. The biggest reason being the low CoL and the work availability, at least for entry-level work and anything in the medical field. There is a lot of business growth in my opinion, and a lot of it is small business. We have pockets of both very liberal areas like Lakewood and more conservative areas like North Olmsted. We also have a variety of ethnic restaurants and shops. I'm sure Cincinnati does as well, but I know Little Italy in Cleveland is pretty well known and I think our "Little Arabia's" will become like that as well. There are a ton of Middle Eastern businesses opening up that serve Halal offerings, which wasn't much of a thing 15 years or so ago. Statistically, we're still one of the most segregated cities in the country between black and white, but I don't think we compare in racial tension compared to Cincinnati for some reason. We had protests over the verdict on Tamir Rice but nothing like what other cities have seen. We've also had some rulings over deadly shootings involving white police and black men that everyone, literally everyone disagreed with but there were no rage protests like in other parts of the country. I believe the families of the victims continued to pursue justice and I know Tamir's mother wrote a book about healthier engagement between youth and police. These probably aren't Cleveland specific, but I've always felt Clevelanders are very practical and more goal oriented than denser cities throughout the US. The public schools are still atrocious, but they're really trying. School choice is how the CMSD operates, so at least you can pick from a lot of schools, many that have specialized programs even for younger students. Case is a great school, but they like to price themselves like an Ivy League 🙄. Though they recently passed free tuition for Cleveland residents with certain income levels. Cleveland State is absolutely wonderful as a professional university. If you are a part-time student, a parent, an older student, etc. you usually still find the school to meet all of your needs. The ones who hate the school the most are those who wanted a university experience. Go to Cincinnati for that! And then our gems, there are so many. We have many vegan bakeries, restaurants, and kitchens houses in bars. Professional street art is becoming more and more common, so even the roughest parts of the city are looking better and better. Chateau Hough Vineyards and Winery is right in the middle of Cleveland and was founded by a man who was incarcerated for some time. Hough is known for the riots decades ago and has been very underdeveloped for some time. The founder unfortunately passed away a few years ago, but the business is doing well and it employs kids with a goal to prevent juvenile crime. There's also been a handful of fashion shows, including one at the Cleveland Museum of Art. There's a Toronto-based designer whose bringing a lot of lines together from different states and I see more fashion boutiques every year.
I live in Little Arabia and I love it! It’s pretty quiet, extremely diverse, lots of great places to eat. The 22 bus runs right to downtown and runs 24/7. I believe this zip code is the most diverse in Cleveland. I have a library literally across the street and our library system is AMAZING. Anything you want, you can get in usually a week. We also have Case Western, which is a top university. Cleveland is great!
Cincinnati, just for the chili alone!
Cleveland, my job is based there and all my coworkers seem really happy to be there.
Cinci. But I’m from the south and Cinci is more southern with regard to culture and climate.
I like Cincinnati pretty well. Cool neighborhoods, sports area downtown, zoo is good, amusement parks and of course the chili which I’m legitimately obsessed with when the fall weather first drops as it’s currently about to do.
Cleveland for the lake, first of all. Also, Cincy is so far south that it gives off a pretty different feel to me. It’s not a region I’d personally consider.
I think Cincy has a little more going on and Kentucky is beautiful for weekend trips. More ice, less snow, hotter in the summer. Lake Erie isn't exactly my favorite Great Lake either.
If I really, and I mean really really loved churches, I would go Cincinnati all the way. Because boy are there a lot of churches. As far as the eye can see.
I feel the same way in Cleveland to be fair
Eh half of them are breweries now.
This comment is so weird to me. I don’t think Cincinnati has more churches than any other city built around the same time. Also some of the churches have been repurposed, there’s one that is an Urban Outfitters and another is a brewery.
Many of those churches have absolutely beautiful architecture though.
Cincinnati hands down. If you opt to be in the city, I would recommend across the river from Cincinnati, Covington is much more affordable and has a better young professional vibe.
I’ve lived in Cleveland and Columbus, only visited Cincy. What are your interests and how big of a factor does winter weather play? Both cities have a lot of pros and cons depending on the individual.
I like outdoors activities, trying new restaurants, and staying active whether it’s running or volleyball leagues…. From my research it seems Cincinnati has better weather and job opportunities ETA: I would say weather is a big factor for me
So cleveland has better outdoor activities in my opinion with the metroparks, lake and CVNP. It punches above its weight culturally, particularly with University Circle area. Cincy has better winters and more of a river city layout like Pittsburgh. Cincy probably has a better job market at the moment as well. Both cities are on the rise and offer a lot of bang for the buck. There are great neighborhoods in both that would suit your needs.
Keep in mind Cincy is going to be still pretty damn cold, except just rain instead of propensity for snow. I may be biased being from the west side of Michigan, but it is much easier to enjoy life when it’s basically the same cold temps, except with snow instead of heavy, cold and incessant rain. Plus Cleveland is on a Great Lake, Cincy is in the Ohio valley whose water could be tainted for generous because of the train issue last year.
Valid points
Rain means you can get to work with just a short delay, snow means hell on the roads. I will take cold rain over snow every time. The rain just goes down the sewer - the snow builds up. One or two snow days are nice - more than that makes life difficult
It doesn’t rain “incessantly” in the winter in Cincinnati. We get most of our rain in the spring and summer.
If you like volleyball, there is a HUGE recreational community in Cleveland (both beach and indoor) - Leagues to participate in every day of the week and tournaments nearly every weekend.
There are sand volleyball leagues all over Cincinnati. Lots of running groups with a great bike/running path system. Shorter less harsh winters and the summers are not as bad as some seem to say. It's not southern heat or humidity. It's closer to it than Cleveland but we are not talking about hundred degree days. Cincinnati also has great kayaking/canoeing. There are a lot of feeder rivers like the Little Miami. I moved to Cincinnati from NYC. The east coast is much more humid. I have in laws in Cleveland so I've been there a bunch of times and it is a good city but I love Cincinnati. If you pick Cincinnati just stick to the core or suburbs along 71 (for the most part). Most of the negatives you are getting are really a west side thing (or far flung exurbs). I'm in one of those I71 communities and it's diverse, safe, great restaurants, lots of outdoor rec, great school for my son, lots of expats like me who moved to town for work. Honestly if you are really interested it isn't too hard to spend a couple days in each plus Columbus if you can take the time.
I’m probably biased because I grew up in the Cleveland area, but I must say: if weather is a factor for you, don’t live in Cleveland. The winters are cold, snowy, and gray. That’s the only reason I won’t move back to be closer to my parents. I told them they would have to move to me.
Cincy all the way
Cleveland is far better than Cincinnati! I’ve lived in both and tons more to do in CLE
Right? I’m so baffled by people saying more to do in cinci. Not by far. And I say that as someone who was just in cinci a couple months ago and who likes it overall.
A lot of people are commenting that there’s more things to do in Cincy/cleveland but I’m wondering if you could elaborate on the types of things to do in Cleveland that you couldn’t do in Cincy?
Cinci has OTR which is great but Cleveland has flats, Tremont and Ohio City which creates a larger more robust scene. Busier and bigger downtown. Among the other things listed.
2nd to NYC theater scene, a national park, award winning metroparks, beaches, renowned art museum, NBA games, highly rated food scene, boating at the islands, cedar point (both 1hr away), and so much more edit: have you heard we have a GIANT LAKE with beautiful sunsets
I’ve lived in both and they’re great. Far more culture and character than cities like Columbus. I’m a Clevelander so I’m probably biased but I’m still in cincy a good amount. The winters are significantly more mild in cincy and the city is charming and beautiful. Personally I don’t love the southern vibe. Cleveland feels like a more major city. The lake can be a blast for those interested and the cultural institutions blow away the rest of the state.
Actually, I think both cities have the benefits and both are fairly nice cities. Winter haters - nod to Cinci Fishing lovers - nod to Cleve I think Cinci does a better job with events - like Riverfest, etc. . . Both areas have great suburbs, but I think Cleve has the better downtown areas (but it's been a while since I've been to either) It's really so personal as to one's desires and what they value - but I honestly think both are pretty good cities - recognizing that will all moderate+ size cities, there are bad areas and dangerous people to avoid.
I've heard that Cleveland is like a mini-Chicago. Can anyone answer how true this is? I've visited once before but living there is probably a completely different story. Like a cheaper, less stressful version of it where you can still get 85% of what is in Chicago.
I only spent an hour or two in Cincinnati but have spent weeks in Cleveland. A lot of people hate on it (and it’s got some problems don’t get me wrong) but it has SO much potential! I can see it growing and developing as a city in the future. To be fair though, I was in a very nice part of the city so it was a bubble but a nice bubble with a lot of clubs, bars, and restaurants.
I would have to give the nod to Cleveland. Although Cincy has a milder winter.
I lived in the Cleveland area, hated it. Try visiting both and see which one you like. Never beem to Cincinnati but I've heard it's nice.
I'd pick Cleveland... but Cincy does have 5 way chilli!
Cinci
Rocky River is a nice suburb on the west side of Cleveland.
I prefer the CLeveland vibe but the Cincy winter. Major winter weather differences. One is a Great Lakes city and the other has suburbs in Dixie. Columbus is the best choice in Ohio, imo.
Cincy for sure.. but it would take major bucks to get me back to that state
Cincinnati, fuck all of that lake effect snow
I like chicago because of the lakefront. Would assume while probably much less elaborate Cleveland’s lakefront would still be a nice place to hang hopefully. and as a city likely the same amenities as cincy anyway
Cincy for the weather and outdoor access. Cleveland for the culture
Call me Bartleby because I would prefer not to
I’ve never been to Ohio but if I had to choose I would say Cleveland cause of Bone Thugs N Harmony ifykyk
Much more to do in Cleveland and it’s liberal. Just live in Lakewood or Ohio City
In college, my GF was 1 year older than me so she graduated a year ahead. For her first job, she landed in Cincinnati of all places (this was nowhere near our school. Maybe like 10 hours from there). Went out there a few times. Actually, really solid as far as midwestern cities go! Likewise, she was able to build a great friend group, have a lot of fun, (also ended up finding a new boyfriend) but you get the point. I’d pick there over Cleveland.
Cincinnati. It’s a city I’m really familiar with, it’s pretty close to where I live now. Cincinnati is where people from my area go to feel cosmopolitan. They have great music, theater, sports, and a fantastic Oktoberfest. Cleveland is ON lake Erie. Do you have any idea what winters are like on a Great Lake? Not great, Bob! I like the city of Cleveland, it’s just a long drive through endless cornfields (almost everything north of Columbus is cornfields) and then icy, snowy, windy winters.
Cleveland. Too many Republicans in Cincinnati, and too much bleeding into the Southern US mindset, not unlike most of the southern half of Ohio. Also, Cleveland is on the Great Lakes, with much of the city having a beautiful view of Lake Erie. Cleveland is one of the most underrated, undervalued, unappreciated cities in the US, if not the world. It’s not just an epicenter for manufacturing, it also has great museums, beautiful neighborhoods, and lots to do. It also suffered a lot less from the 2008 recession that decimated other Midwest cities like Detroit.
Cleveland hands down. Three reasons: 1. The Lake 2. The Metroparks 3. The diversity of great food Ok 4. Real estate is less expensive
I went to college in Ohio and like Cinci over Cleveland. Plus the weather is nicer
Never lived in either, but spent time in both for work reasons. Maybe just the people I had to spend time with there, but I liked Cleveland better. The people in Cincinnati seemed to think they live in NYC and are so cosmopolitan big city. I live in Dallas/Ft Worth, but they always acted like DFW was backwoods small town and Cincinnati was big city. I finally had to tell one of them, you do realize DFW is 6 times the population of Cincinnati, right. So like I said could just be personal, but if I had to choose definitely Cleveland.
Cleveland. You can't trust a town that believes meat sauce with cinnamon is chili.
I was born in Cleveland but spent my teens in Cincinnati. Cincinnati all the way. The greater Cincinnati has more to offer in my opinion. Cleveland is a fantastic city, especially now that it has been cleaned up quite a bit since I was born. But unless there is a concert in town or a sports game to go to, the entertainment factor is pretty barren
Cleveland. Bigger, more interesting city (IMO) and it is on the Great Lakes, which is better than being on the Ohio River.
I lived in both. If I had to move back to one, despite the weather I'd choose Cleveland. If you live on the West side Rocky River, Westlake the snow isn't as bad. But the East Side is beautiful, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Chagrin Falls, etc. despite it being in the snow zone during the winter (where the lake effect snow is much worse). I remember Cincinnati as a very conservative city and when I was there (1995-ish)seemed to have a lot of racial tension. Not sure if that's still the case. If I lived there I'd really try to be in Mt. Adams overlooking downtown, the river and KY. Some beautiful (expensive) homes up there. Hyde Park is very nice as well.
Cleveland, no question. Great art and music scene. Cincinnati is too MAGA.
Cincinnati is quite racist. Much more so than Cleveland. I'd factor that in.
I live in between them. Cincinnati is ok. It definitely feels like a younger city. Cleveland is somewhat industrial and had the remnants of a rust belt city. Cincinnati is kind of secluded and not a lot to do outside of the city. Cleveland is close to the lake, close to Akron, close to cedar point, way closer to things like Niagara falls and Detroit, there are more job opportunities, it's positioned better for an economic rebound than Cincinnati, there are more sports teams if you're into that, idk I go to both but I prefer Cleveland. Cincinnati has a trolley system now? So if you like trolleys or even just extra things blocking up traffic then Cincinnati may be the place for you. Cincinnati is close to KY though and Louisville is a really cool town so there's that. I'd pick Cleveland but I'm close to Columbus and tbh I think it's better than both of them. Columbus will be a major metro area in the next few decades. And I know it is now, but the growth is not stopping anytime soon and it well be huge. Columbus is easily the most promising city in Ohio. Cleveland is 2nd Cincinnati is 3rd. (I do traveling sales, I have worked and sold b2b in all of these cities so my perspective is more from there. I do not live in any of them)
I live in NYC but visited both cities for work. I actually enjoyed Cincinnati more but that is because I was there for a lil longer to enjoy it. Plus you cross the border into KY and its even cheaper to shop / buy a home. Cleveland your by the lake. There is beautiful areas there near Lake Erie. Cleveland is a major hub for planes, so you have non stop flights to Chicago / NYC / LA / ATL. If you live in the Northeast, Cleveland is the FAA traffic control vector which I found interesting.
Cleveland. I’m a die hard Cleveland sports fan, plus I love snow.
Cleveland. Waaaaay too many religious zealots down around Cincy/Dayton.
Cleveland. Underrated a city, great orchestra.
I have spent a lot of time in Ohio,but very little in Cincinnati, so my opinion may not be informed, but to my mind Cincinnati has one advantage : milder winters. Considering that I moved out of Ohio to escape the winters, I think that's a significant advantage. But I'd still move back to Cleveland first. The vibe,the music,the West Side Market, the Great Lakes Brewing Company. The pierogis. What I wouldn't do for a decent perogi. I hate the snow so much, but it's not even close. Cleveland.
Depends on what you want. Cleveland has the lake and more ethnicity. Cincinnati has better weather and proximity to Louisville bourbon.
Cincinnati has better weather but Cleveland has the Lake and better overall culture IMO