What it's like to live in Cleveland
Cleveland is a small city in Tennessee with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a growing population. 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, above-average rainfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
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
$2,068
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $41,360 a year
- 48% of Cleveland renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$54,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $27,220
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 27% below US
$1,034/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,034 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $272,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $272,200 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 66% above US
547 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1796/100k · Cleveland Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 16% below US
30% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 30% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park (29 miles away). There are 8 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 ($1,034/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Cleveland
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Collegedale →
13 mi away · pop. 11,330
Rent $1,581/mo · Income $70,246
Compare with Cleveland →Moving to Middle Valley →
18 mi away · pop. 12,187
Rent $1,180/mo · Income $95,000
Compare with Cleveland →Moving to Soddy-Daisy →
18 mi away · pop. 13,231
Rent $1,047/mo · Income $75,113
Compare with Cleveland →Moving to Chattanooga →
23 mi away · pop. 185,783
Rent $1,256/mo · Income $64,523
Compare with Cleveland →Not sure Cleveland is the one?
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