Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland leads 15 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Lakeland
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($87,400 vs $207,800)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($851 vs $1,217)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lakeland by $21,019/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 5.4%)
Lakeland, FL
Pros
96% less violent crime than Cleveland
Households earn $21,019 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$120k less
$87,400 vs $207,800
Lakeland
Median Income
$21,019
$58,290 vs $37,271/yr
Lakeland
Violent Crime
96% lower
56.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Lakeland
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 11.9% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $207,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,217 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $58,290 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 114,404 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and Lakeland wins 15. 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $207,800 median home), income ($37,271 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Lakeland, FL are about 928 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.