Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding 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
Redding
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($87,400 vs $343,000)
Rent averages $427/mo less ($851 vs $1,278)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 100°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Redding by $30,052/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 5.9%)
Redding, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,052 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Cleveland
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$256k less
$87,400 vs $343,000
Redding
Median Income
$30,052
$67,323 vs $37,271/yr
Redding
Violent Crime
59% lower
647.8 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Redding
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 11.9% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 26.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and Redding 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $343,000 median home), income ($37,271 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Redding, CA are about 2,102 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.