What are the schools like in Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland is served primarily by Cleveland Municipal. The district operates 52 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 28 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.7:1.

What is the median household income in Cleveland?

The median household income in Cleveland, OH is $37,271 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.9%.

What is the weather like in Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland has an average high temperature of 35.3°F in January and 80.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 63.8 inches.

Cleveland, OH Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Cleveland, OH affordable or expensive?

Cleveland's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cleveland is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $87,400 and the median rent is $851 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland has a violent crime rate of 1561.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4426.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cleveland, OH a Good Place to Live?

Cleveland is a large city of 370,365 in Ohio, with a median household income of $37,271 and a 11.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Cleveland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, 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: 88.4

Cleveland's overall cost of living index is 88.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cleveland costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Cleveland, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$87,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$851	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	40.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$37,271	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Cleveland's violent crime rate is 1561.1 per 100,000 residents — 311% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1561.1 /100k

Property Crime

4426.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Cleveland is served primarily by Cleveland Municipal. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cleveland, OH	National Avg
School District	Cleveland Municipal	—
Elementary Schools	52	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	28	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cleveland sees average highs of 35.3°F in January and 80.7°F in July, with 33.3 inches of annual precipitation and 63.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cleveland, OH
Average High — January	35.3°F
Average High — July	80.7°F
Annual Precipitation	33.3"
Annual Snowfall	63.8"

Demographics

Metric	Cleveland, OH	National Avg
Population	370,365	—
Median Age	36.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	38.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	46.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.9%	18.9%
Asian	2.5%	6.3%
Under 18	21.2%	22.2%
65 and over	14.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Newburgh Heights, OH 2 mi Cuyahoga Heights, OH 3 mi Brooklyn Heights, OH 4 mi Brooklyn, OH 5 mi Linndale, OH 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Cleveland

Cleveland, OH is covered by 16 ZIP codes:

44135 44109 44105 44111 44102 44104 44103 44110 44113 44108 44106 44114 44115 44127 44119 44101

Cleveland vs Other Cities

Cleveland, OH vs Newburgh Heights, OH Cleveland, OH vs Cuyahoga Heights, OH Cleveland, OH vs Brooklyn Heights, OH Cleveland, OH vs Brooklyn, OH Cleveland, OH vs Linndale, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cleveland, OH affordable or expensive?

Cleveland's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cleveland roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $87,400 and median rent is $851/month.

What is the crime rate in Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland's violent crime rate is 1561.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4426.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cleveland?

Public schools in Cleveland are operated by Cleveland Municipal. The district has 52 elementary, several middle, and 28 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1. 20.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cleveland, OH a good place to live?

Cleveland, OH has a population of 370,365, a median household income of $37,271, and an unemployment rate of 11.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Cleveland?

Cleveland averages 35.3°F in January and 80.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.3 inches with about 63.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cleveland?

Cleveland, OH is covered by 16 ZIP codes: 44135, 44109, 44105, 44111, 44102, 44104, 44103, 44110, 44113, 44108, 44106, 44114, 44115, 44127, 44119, 44101.

What is the population of Cleveland?

The population of Cleveland, Ohio is 370,365 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cleveland?

Key numbers for living in Cleveland: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $87,400, median household income $37,271, crime index 331 (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.