Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Seattle leads 13 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365
Seattle
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $793k less ($87,400 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $1094/mo less ($851 vs $1,945)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $78,797/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 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $78,797 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.7 pts lower (4.2%)
50% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$793k less
$87,400 vs $879,900
Cleveland
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 80.7°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$78,797
$116,068 vs $37,271/yr
Seattle
Violent Crime
50% lower
775.1 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Seattle
Unemployment
7.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Seattle leads 13 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 10 and Seattle wins 13. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $879,900 median home), income ($37,271 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Seattle, WA are about 2,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.