Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington 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
Washington
District of Columbia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $618k less ($87,400 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $966/mo less ($851 vs $1,817)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $64,451/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 7.1%)
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $64,451 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (7.1%)
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$618k less
$87,400 vs $705,000
Washington
Median Income
$64,451
$101,722 vs $37,271/yr
Washington
Violent Crime
41% lower
925.9 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Washington
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
7.1% vs 11.9% unemployment
Washington
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 244⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 41.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $705,000 median home), income ($37,271 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Washington, DC are about 304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.