Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Lansing leads 14 of 22 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
Lansing
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$50,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $25k less ($87,400 vs $112,200)
Rent averages $103/mo less ($851 vs $954)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lansing
Cons
Median income trails Lansing by $13,476/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 8.3%)
Lansing, MI
Pros
Households earn $13,476 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (8.3%)
14% less violent crime than Cleveland
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 50" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$25k less
$87,400 vs $112,200
Lansing
Median Income
$13,476
$50,747 vs $37,271/yr
Lansing
Violent Crime
14% lower
1345.1 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Lansing
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
8.3% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $112,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $954 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $50,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 8.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 260⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 354⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 29.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 50.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lansing leads 14 of 22 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and Lansing wins 14. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $112,200 median home), income ($37,271 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Lansing, MI are about 171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.