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Living in
East Cleveland.
About
Life in East Cleveland
Living in East Cleveland means embracing affordability as your biggest advantage—homes average under $72,000 and rent runs around $776 a month, making this one of the most accessible places in the region if budget is your primary concern. The city itself is small and dense—just over 3 square miles with nearly 13,700 people—positioned as a suburb sandwiched between Cleveland and Cleveland Heights, giving you quick access to University Circle's major institutions like Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, and the Cleveland Museum of Art without living in a sprawling metro. The job market here is limited; the employment rate hovers around 54%, and most residents commute out (averaging 24 minutes) to find work, so you'll likely be looking beyond East Cleveland for stable employment.
East Cleveland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
40.7%
Foreign-Born
4.8%
Broadband Internet
73.9%
of households
Population Growth
-3.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.8% foreign-born, most often from Ivory Coast
Who lives in East Cleveland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Cleveland, the largest foreign-born group is from Ivory Coast (36.6%), and 3.8% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
24.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
60.1%
of households
Married Couples
10.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.92
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in East Cleveland
In East Cleveland, rent runs 25% below the OH average, and home values are 68% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,329
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
37.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
30.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $66,679 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below OH average
Unemployment in East Cleveland and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cuyahoga County, which includes East Cleveland, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
East Cleveland: Cuyahoga County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cuyahoga County (county-wide) · Annual averages
East Cleveland is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What East Cleveland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Cleveland-Elyria, OH metro area
Commute25 min avg
How East Cleveland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Cleveland, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 103 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 420% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in East Cleveland runs 420% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,712.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,952.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
East Cleveland Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cuyahoga County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cuyahoga County, which includes East Cleveland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.5M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.1M |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $376,500 |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $878,000 |
| 2019 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $27.2M |
| 2018 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cuyahoga County, county-wide
East Cleveland is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cuyahoga County, which includes East Cleveland, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
158
per year
Moderate Days
203
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Cuyahoga County, county-wide
East Cleveland is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Cleveland has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.3"
Annual Snowfall
63.8"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
91
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 24°F | 1.76" |
| Feb | 37°F | 25°F | 1.53" |
| Mar | 45°F | 31°F | 2.35" |
| Apr | 57°F | 41°F | 3.10" |
| May | 68°F | 53°F | 3.51" |
| Jun | 77°F | 63°F | 2.84" |
| Jul | 81°F | 68°F | 3.66" |
| Aug | 80°F | 67°F | 3.45" |
| Sep | 74°F | 60°F | 2.94" |
| Oct | 63°F | 49°F | 3.24" |
| Nov | 51°F | 38°F | 2.92" |
| Dec | 40°F | 30°F | 2.04" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Cleveland
Uninsured
10.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside East Cleveland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Cleveland
Uh Cleveland Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Cleveland
Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital
Childrens · 2.3 mi away · Cleveland
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Cleveland
East Cleveland's student/teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Cleveland (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 8,969 students · in-state tuition $13,262 · 57% graduate · median earnings $56,979 (10 yrs after entry)
Case Western Reserve University
2.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 6,437 students · in-state tuition $69,270 · 87% graduate · median earnings $89,865 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,274 students · in-state tuition $51,960 · 77% graduate · median earnings $74,509 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Parma
13.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 624 students · in-state tuition $20,109 · 30% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 539 students · in-state tuition $50,575 · 67% graduate · median earnings $42,757 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Cleveland
6.4 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 164 students · in-state tuition $23,880 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: James A Garfield National Historic Site, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Cleveland
East Cleveland has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being James A Garfield National Historic Site (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
James A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayCuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
19 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
52 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
64 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Cleveland
East Cleveland Public Library
14101 Euclid Ave., East Cleveland
Cities Near East Cleveland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Cleveland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Cleveland FAQ
Is East Cleveland, Ohio affordable?⌄
East Cleveland's median rent is $776/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $22,116/year. Median home value is $68,800.
Is East Cleveland, Ohio safe?⌄
East Cleveland's violent crime rate was 1713 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2953 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Cleveland, Ohio?⌄
Cuyahoga County, which includes East Cleveland, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Cleveland, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in East Cleveland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $776/month and median household income is $22,116/year. The median home value is $68,800. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Cleveland, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in East Cleveland is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from