Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh 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
Raleigh
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($87,400 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $520/mo less ($851 vs $1,371)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $41,360/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%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $41,360 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.4 pts lower (4.5%)
69% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$260k less
$87,400 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$41,360
$78,631 vs $37,271/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
69% lower
488.8 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
7.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 11.9% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $347,000 median home), income ($37,271 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Raleigh, NC are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.