Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($87,400 vs $196,700)
Rent averages $161/mo less ($851 vs $1,012)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Oklahoma City
Cons
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $26,980/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 4.5%)
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Households earn $26,980 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.4 pts lower (4.5%)
57% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) 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 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$109k less
$87,400 vs $196,700
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$26,980
$64,251 vs $37,271/yr
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
57% lower
676.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
7.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 11.9% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $196,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,012 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $64,251 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 6.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 16 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 7 and Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $196,700 median home), income ($37,271 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Oklahoma City, OK are about 950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.