Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Compton, CA
🏆 Cleveland leads 13 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Compton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,822
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $402k less ($87,400 vs $489,400)
Rent averages $613/mo less ($851 vs $1,464)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 20.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $32,457/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%)
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,457 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (7.9%)
19% less violent crime than Cleveland
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Cleveland
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$402k less
$87,400 vs $489,400
Cleveland
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 80.7°F vs 77.2°F
Compton
Median Income
$32,457
$69,728 vs $37,271/yr
Compton
Violent Crime
19% lower
1271.7 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Compton
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
7.9% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Compton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $489,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,464⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $69,728 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 3.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 335⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Compton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 94,822 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Compton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cleveland leads 13 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 13 and Compton wins 10. 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 Compton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $489,400 median home), income ($37,271 vs $69,728), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Compton, CA are about 2,049 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.