Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 19 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0
Median Household Income
$63,114 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($87,400 vs $204,800)
Rent averages $163/mo less ($851 vs $1,014)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cons
Median income trails Louisville/Jefferson County metro government by $25,843/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 5.3%)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Households earn $25,843 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (5.3%)
55% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 35°F
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 94.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$117k less
$87,400 vs $204,800
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Income
$25,843
$63,114 vs $37,271/yr
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Violent Crime
55% lower
707.4 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 11.9% unemployment
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 94.0 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $204,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $63,114 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 90.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 42.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 15.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 60.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 19 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 4 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 19. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $204,800 median home), income ($37,271 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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