Bolts-Bengals cities compared: How much cheaper is a house in Cincinnati?

And Cincy's commute time is 0.4 seconds less!


The NFL teams from San Diego and Cincinnati (it's in Ohio) face off Sunday.

The two cities are quite different, as is to be expected in comparing the southwestern-most major city in the continental United States, a city known for, well, you know, and a Midwestern metropolis that contributed to American culture with the first professional baseball team (the Red Stockings) and the first night baseball game played under lights. (See Choose Cincinatti Fun Facts. It also offers more information on the food items Cincy's mayor bet San Diego's mayor.)

U-T Business Columnist Dan McSwain, who has lived and worked in both cities, compared the cities and gave "the nod to Cincinnati as the better football town." This morning's U-T provided the following contrasts between the two bergs:

The cities

Metro area population

San Diego: 3,177,063 vs. Cincinnati: 2,146,560

Year founded

1769 vs. 1788

Year incorporated

1850 vs. 1819

“America’s Finest City" vs. "The Queen City"

Tallest building

One America Plaza, 500 ft., vs. Great American Tower, 660 feet

Famous bridge

San Diego-Coronado Bridge, 11,179 feet long, vs. John A. Roebling Suspension

Bridge, 1,057 feet long

Daily life

Average commute time

24.6 minutes vs. 24.2 minutes

Average low in January

49˚ vs. 23˚

Average high in July

77° vs. 87°


Famous fictitious on-air personality

Actor and comedian Will Ferrell as TV anchorman Ron Burgundy.AP Photo

Ron Burgundy of the movie “Anchorman” vs. Dr. Johnny Fever of the TV show “WKRP in Cincinnati”

Famous dish

Fish tacos vs. Three-way chili: spaghetti, chili and cheese

Former mayor turned talk-show host

Roger Hedgecock vs. Jerry Springer

Most popular theme park with attendance

SeaWorld California, 4.4 million, vs. Kings Island, 3.2 million

Top-rated restaurants on Yelp

Oscars Mexican Seafood, Sushi Ota, Alforon (Mediterranean) vs. Orchids (New American),

Iconic musical group

blink-182 vs. The Isley Brothers

Famous hometown connections

San Diego: Politician Pete Wilson, Ted Williams, Annette Bening, John D. Spreckels, Andrew Cunanan, Tony Gwynn, Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, Gregory Peck, Tony Hawk, Bill Walton, Marcus Allen, Marion Ross, Michelle Williams

Cincinnati: William Howard Taft, Pete Rose, Doris Day, Barry Larkin, James N. Gamble (industrialist), Ted Turner, Charles Manson, Miller Huggins (baseball), Thomas Berger (author), Roy Rogers, Julie Hagerty


Top employer

Dept. of Defense vs. Kroger supermarket chain (including Ralphs)

Median home price

$485,000 (up 23%) vs. $142,100 (up 6%)

Median household income

$60,330 vs. $52,439

Civilian labor force

1,598,900 vs. 1,087,500

Unemployment RATE

7% vs. 7%


0.9% vs. 1.7%

Pct. of population 25 or older with bachelor’s degree or higher

34.8% vs. 29.6%

Pct. of population with no health insurance

17% vs. 10.5%

Top agricultural crop

Ornamental trees and shrubs vs. corn

Fans wait for the arrival of the National League Central Champions Cincinnati Reds baseball team during a celebration on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati, Monday, Oct. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/David Kohl) — AP


Major-league sports teams

Chargers, Padres vs. Bengals, Reds

(NBA franchises came and went in both cities)

League championships

None vs. five World Series


San Diego still owes $50 million from the 1997 renovation of Qualcomm Stadium and about $226 million (of the $474 million cost) for Petco Park.

Hamilton County, Ohio, is on the hook for about $1 billion in public financing for Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

Super Bowls

San Diego: Lost in January 1995

Cincinnati: Lost in January 1982 and January 1989

Trips to NCAA tournament

San Diego State, 9 vs University of Cincinnati, 27

Members of the NFL Hall of Fame

Chargers, 7 vs. Bengals: 1

What jumps out at you? How would you contrast the two towns? Share your thoughts, without too much trash talking for the Queen City, in the comments below.

Compiled by Dan McSwain and Merrie Monteagudo


