Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($87,400 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $501/mo less ($851 vs $1,352)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Hoover
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $64,494/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 3.9%)
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $64,494 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.0 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$279k less
$87,400 vs $366,200
Hoover
Median Income
$64,494
$101,765 vs $37,271/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
95% lower
78.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
8.0 pp lower
3.9% vs 11.9% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.6 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 6 and Hoover wins 17. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $366,200 median home), income ($37,271 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Hoover, AL are about 626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.