Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Norwalk 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
Norwalk
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $506k less ($87,400 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $1009/mo less ($851 vs $1,860)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $53,988/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 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,988 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Cleveland
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$506k less
$87,400 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$53,988
$91,259 vs $37,271/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
76% lower
374.4 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 11.9% unemployment
Norwalk
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 12 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 11 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $593,100 median home), income ($37,271 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Norwalk, CA are about 2,042 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.