Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 15 of 22 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($87,400 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $814/mo less ($851 vs $1,665)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $45,515/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 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $45,515 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.5 pts lower (4.4%)
50% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$407k less
$87,400 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Median Income
$45,515
$82,786 vs $37,271/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
50% lower
787.2 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
7.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 11.9% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 58.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 15 of 22 categories. Cleveland wins 7 and Lakewood 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $494,100 median home), income ($37,271 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Lakewood, CO are about 1,232 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.