Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 15 of 23 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
Norman
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($87,400 vs $224,900)
Rent averages $153/mo less ($851 vs $1,004)
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 Norman
Cons
Median income trails Norman by $25,578/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 5.8%)
Norman, OK
Pros
83% less violent crime than Cleveland
Households earn $25,578 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 35°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$138k less
$87,400 vs $224,900
Norman
Median Income
$25,578
$62,849 vs $37,271/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
83% lower
260.2 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Norman
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 11.9% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,004 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and Norman 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $224,900 median home), income ($37,271 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Norman, OK are about 950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.