Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Cleveland leads 13 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Rent averages $326/mo less ($851 vs $1,177)
Homes cost $24k less ($87,400 vs $111,200)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Trenton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
More college-educated — 20.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Trenton by $7,173/yr
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 10.2%)
Trenton, NJ
Pros
34% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (10.2%)
Households earn $7,173 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$24k less
$87,400 vs $111,200
Trenton
Median Income
$7,173
$44,444 vs $37,271/yr
Trenton
Violent Crime
34% lower
1025.9 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Trenton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
10.2% vs 11.9% unemployment
Trenton
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $111,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $44,444 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 10.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cleveland leads 13 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 13 and Trenton wins 10. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $111,200 median home), income ($37,271 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Trenton, NJ are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.