Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Lubbock leads 16 of 23 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
Lubbock
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
258,190
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($87,400 vs $181,600)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($851 vs $1,093)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lubbock
Cons
Median income trails Lubbock by $21,463/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 4.6%)
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $21,463 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Cleveland
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 35°F
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$94k less
$87,400 vs $181,600
Lubbock
Median Income
$21,463
$58,734 vs $37,271/yr
Lubbock
Violent Crime
47% lower
821.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Lubbock
Unemployment
7.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 11.9% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $181,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,093 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $58,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 7.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 258,190 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 16 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 7 and Lubbock wins 16. 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $181,600 median home), income ($37,271 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Lubbock, TX are about 1,231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.