Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City 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
Salt Lake City
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $371k less ($87,400 vs $458,600)
Rent averages $403/mo less ($851 vs $1,254)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $35,086/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 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $35,086 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.3 pts lower (3.6%)
45% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$371k less
$87,400 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$35,086
$72,357 vs $37,271/yr
Salt Lake City
Violent Crime
45% lower
864.2 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
8.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 11.9% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 227⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 49.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 14 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 9 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $458,600 median home), income ($37,271 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.