Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Cleveland leads 12 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($87,400 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $539/mo less ($851 vs $1,390)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Commutes run 3 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 Elizabeth by $22,668/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 5.9%)
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
74% less violent crime than Cleveland
Households earn $22,668 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Cleveland
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$271k less
$87,400 vs $358,400
Elizabeth
Median Income
$22,668
$59,939 vs $37,271/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
74% lower
408.7 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Elizabeth
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 11.9% unemployment
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $358,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $59,939 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 31.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cleveland leads 12 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 12 and Elizabeth wins 11. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $358,400 median home), income ($37,271 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Elizabeth, NJ are about 394 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.