Hamilton County vs Summit County
Hamilton County, Ohio versus Summit County, Ohio: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Hamilton County and Summit County score about the same overall (44 vs 46 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Hamilton County | Summit County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $68k | $68k |
| Cost of Living | $42k | $43k |
| Home Value | $205k | $183k |
| Monthly Rent | $961 | $956 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.61% | 1.60% |
| Income Tax | 4.54% | 5.22% |
| Sales Tax | 7.24% | 7.24% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.76% | 11.89% |
| Unemployment | 5.0% | 5.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 32°F | 28°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.0 in | 39.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.9 in | 46.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 209 days | 175 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 69 days | 95 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 96.3 | 91.2 |
| Air Quality | 54 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 69.5 | 62.2 |
| Violent Crime | 1285/100k | 1820/100k |
| Property Crime | 2408/100k | 2238/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 827,671 | 539,361 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 41.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.50 | 0.40 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | D+16 | Even |
| White (%) | 63.9% | 74.9% |
| Black (%) | 25.2% | 13.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.7% | 2.4% |
| Asian (%) | 2.8% | 3.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.4% | 4.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 10.9/20 | 7.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 11 mi | 25 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.5% | 89.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 8.96 | 8.70 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hamilton County or Summit County more affordable?
- Hamilton County has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Hamilton County's $42k and Summit County's $43k. Median rent is $961 in Hamilton County versus $956 in Summit County.
- Is Hamilton County or Summit County safer?
- Hamilton County has the lower violent crime rate. Hamilton County reports 1285/100k and Summit County reports 1820/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Hamilton County or Summit County?
- The median home value is $205k in Hamilton County and $183k in Summit County, so homes are more affordable in Summit County.