Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio 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
San Antonio
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($87,400 vs $198,000)
Rent averages $338/mo less ($851 vs $1,189)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Antonio
Cons
Median income trails San Antonio by $22,322/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%)
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Households earn $22,322 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$111k less
$87,400 vs $198,000
San Antonio
Median Income
$22,322
$59,593 vs $37,271/yr
San Antonio
Violent Crime
62% lower
594.1 vs 1561.1 per 100k
San Antonio
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 11.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $198,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $59,593 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and San Antonio 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $198,000 median home), income ($37,271 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and San Antonio, TX are about 1,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.