Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 17 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $375k less ($87,400 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $509/mo less ($851 vs $1,360)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $35,802/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 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $35,802 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (5.0%)
66% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Cleveland
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
$375k less
$87,400 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$35,802
$73,073 vs $37,271/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
66% lower
529.6 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 11.9% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 17 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 6 and Reno wins 17. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $462,100 median home), income ($37,271 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Reno, NV are about 1,993 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.