Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 16 of 22 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $336k less ($87,400 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $675/mo less ($851 vs $1,526)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $45,667/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 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $45,667 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Cleveland
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$336k less
$87,400 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$45,667
$82,938 vs $37,271/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
75% lower
394.4 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 11.9% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sparks leads 16 of 22 categories. Cleveland wins 6 and Sparks wins 16. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $423,500 median home), income ($37,271 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Sparks, NV are about 1,986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.