Seattle - WA vs Cincinnati - OH: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Seattle - WA is roughly 135% more expensive than Cincinnati - OH in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Seattle - WA (27 days vs 11), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Seattle vs Cincinnati: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $3,989 a month in principal and interest in Seattle and $1,695 in Cincinnati, a gap of $2,294 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,250 in Seattle and $1,522 in Cincinnati, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.8 times rent in Seattle and 1.1 times rent in Cincinnati, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 26.7 years of rent in Seattle and 16.8 in Cincinnati; the lower ratio in Cincinnati means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -2.9% in Seattle and +5.0% in Cincinnati; over just the last three months the change was -0.3% in Seattle and +0.3% in Cincinnati.

Homes sell for 99.3% of list price in Seattle and 99.1% in Cincinnati, after 27 and 11 days on the market, with price cuts on 34% and 33% of listings. The signs are mixed: Seattle has more price cuts and longer time on the market, while Cincinnati has sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 20% on a year ago in Seattle and up 8% on a year ago in Cincinnati.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.