Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Columbia leads 14 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Columbia
South Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
136,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($87,400 vs $226,200)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($851 vs $1,105)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $16,824/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 7.9%)
Columbia, SC
Pros
51% less violent crime than Cleveland
Households earn $16,824 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (7.9%)
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 35°F
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 92.9 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$139k less
$87,400 vs $226,200
Columbia
Median Income
$16,824
$54,095 vs $37,271/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
51% lower
769.9 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
7.9% vs 11.9% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.9 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $226,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,105 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $54,095 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 136,754 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 14 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 9 and Columbia wins 14. 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 Cleveland to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $226,200 median home), income ($37,271 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Columbia, SC are about 516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.