What it's like to live in Cleveland
Cleveland is a large city in Ohio with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and several well-rated hospitals. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cleveland deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 64" per year
How Cleveland compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cleveland
Based on Cleveland's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,890
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $37,800 a year
- 48% of Cleveland renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$20,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $10,200
- Homes cost 2.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 33% below US
$945/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $945 a month. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $102,000. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $102,000 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 315% above US
1365 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3964/100k · Cleveland Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% take public transit; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
8 hospitals
There are 8 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.7 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 38% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
144 public schools inside the boundary
There are 144 public schools inside the boundary and 26 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Cuyahoga Valley National Park (16 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Cleveland's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($945/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget.
Other places near Cleveland
All Ohio guides →Moving to Garfield Heights →
6 mi away · pop. 29,269
Rent $1,129/mo · Income $54,593
Compare with Cleveland →Moving to East Cleveland →
6 mi away · pop. 13,534
Rent $776/mo · Income $22,116
Compare with Cleveland →