Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Richmond leads 14 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $537k less ($87,400 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $1002/mo less ($851 vs $1,853)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $49,347/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 6.9%)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,347 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Cleveland
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$537k less
$87,400 vs $624,800
Cleveland
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 80.7°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$49,347
$86,618 vs $37,271/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
41% lower
923.1 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
6.9% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 243⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 14 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 9 and Richmond wins 14. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $624,800 median home), income ($37,271 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Richmond, CA are about 2,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.