Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 23 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
Surprise
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($87,400 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $971/mo less ($851 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $50,485/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 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $50,485 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Cleveland
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$265k less
$87,400 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$50,485
$87,756 vs $37,271/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
93% lower
109.1 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
7.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 11.9% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
23.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 6 and Surprise wins 17. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $352,600 median home), income ($37,271 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Surprise, AZ are about 1,759 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.