Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo 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 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $1422k less ($87,400 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $2120/mo less ($851 vs $2,971)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 5 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 San Mateo by $111,881/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 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $111,881 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.2 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Cleveland
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
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
$1422k less
$87,400 vs $1,508,900
Cleveland
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 80.7°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$111,881
$149,152 vs $37,271/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
84% lower
243.2 vs 1561.1 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | San Mateo, 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 | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and San Mateo 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($37,271 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and San Mateo, CA are about 2,162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.