Cleveland is a small town of 1,252 in Alabama, with a median household income of $49,387
and a 6.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cleveland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Cleveland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cleveland city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.6
Cleveland's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cleveland costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cleveland, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$147,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$788
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,387
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cleveland's violent crime rate is 161.0 per 100,000 residents
— 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
161.0 /100k
Property Crime
1127.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cleveland is served primarily by Blount County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cleveland, AL
National Avg
School District
Blount County
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
71.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cleveland sees average highs of 53.2°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 59.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.1 inches of snow per year.
Cleveland's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cleveland roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $147,500 and median rent is $788/month.
Cleveland's violent crime rate is 161.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1127.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cleveland are operated by Blount County.
The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1. 14.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cleveland, AL has a population of 1,252, a median household income of $49,387, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Cleveland averages 53.2°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.1 inches
with about 1.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cleveland, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35049.
The population of Cleveland, Alabama is 1,252 with a median age of 40.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cleveland: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $147,500, median household income $49,387, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cleveland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
