Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($87,400 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $646/mo less ($851 vs $1,497)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $36,104/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 7.8%)
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,104 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (7.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) 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 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$294k less
$87,400 vs $381,800
Modesto
Median Income
$36,104
$73,375 vs $37,271/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
58% lower
655.7 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Modesto
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
7.8% vs 11.9% unemployment
Modesto
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 11 and Modesto wins 12. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $381,800 median home), income ($37,271 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Modesto, CA are about 2,093 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.