Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Orlando 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
Orlando
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,738
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($87,400 vs $332,700)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($851 vs $1,509)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Orlando by $29,021/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 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Households earn $29,021 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (5.2%)
46% less violent crime than Cleveland
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$245k less
$87,400 vs $332,700
Orlando
Median Income
$29,021
$66,292 vs $37,271/yr
Orlando
Violent Crime
46% lower
835.8 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Orlando
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 11.9% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $66,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 192⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 307,738 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orlando leads 12 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 11 and Orlando 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $332,700 median home), income ($37,271 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Orlando, FL are about 903 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.