Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Cleveland leads 12 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
San Bernardino
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
221,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($87,400 vs $347,100)
Rent averages $468/mo less ($851 vs $1,319)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 20.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Bernardino by $24,052/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 7.6%)
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,052 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (7.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Cleveland
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$260k less
$87,400 vs $347,100
San Bernardino
Median Income
$24,052
$61,323 vs $37,271/yr
San Bernardino
Violent Crime
43% lower
897.1 vs 1561.1 per 100k
San Bernardino
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
7.6% vs 11.9% unemployment
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cleveland leads 12 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 12 and San Bernardino wins 11. 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 Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $347,100 median home), income ($37,271 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,994 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.