Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Cleveland, OH
🏆 Charlotte leads 16 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Cleveland
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $36,799 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.2 pts lower (4.7%)
53% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($87,400 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $548/mo less ($851 vs $1,399)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $36,799/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$36,799
$74,070 vs $37,271/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
53% lower
733.2 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Charlotte
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 11.9% unemployment
Charlotte
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 80.7°F
Cleveland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$225k less
$87,400 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Cleveland, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $87,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $851 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $37,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 331⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 411⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 211⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Cleveland Municipal |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 63.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 370,365 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Cleveland's 88.4 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 16 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 16 and Cleveland wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Charlotte to Cleveland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $87,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $37,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Cleveland, OH are about 436 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.