Living in Cleveland, OH
Cleveland is the 53rd-largest city in the US, home to about 364,000 people in 2025. It has lost 2.4% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run below the national average (93.9 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 363,608-2.4% since 2020
- Median home value
- $102,0002.5 years of median income
- Median rent
- $945/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $40,801median, per year
- Price level
- 93.9US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 35° / 81°lows 24° / 68°
- Average commute
- 23 min12% work from home
- State income tax
- 2.75%top rate, flat
Been to Cleveland?
Added to your city passport. See things to do
Added to the wishlist on your city passport.
County: Cuyahoga County
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Elevation: about 653 ft
Metro area: Cleveland, OH
Cost of living in Cleveland
The median home in Cleveland is worth $102,000 and the median household earns $40,801 a year, so a typical home costs about 2.5 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $945 a month, about 28% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Cleveland, OH metro area at 93.9, with housing at 79.4 and goods at 93.6 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $70,400 here. Ohio taxes wages at a top rate of 2.75% (a flat rate). The average combined state and local sales tax in Ohio is 7.29%.
What would my salary be worth in Cleveland?
Cleveland weather
Average highs run from 35°F in January to 81°F in July, and January nights average 24°F. It gets 33 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 64 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 91 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Cleveland
People and work
The median resident is 36.3 years old, and 22% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 42% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 22 minutes; 12% of workers work from home and 6% take public transit.
- Median age
- 36.3259th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 22%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 42%of households
- People per sq mile
- 4,67877.7 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 7%5% walk, 0.5% bike
- Unemployment
- 10.8%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 30.6%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1941median year
Who moves to Cleveland, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Columbus (Franklin County), Chicago (Cook County) and Phoenix (Maricopa County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Columbus (Franklin County), Chicago (Cook County) and Phoenix (Maricopa County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
FEMA rating for Cuyahoga County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: tornado, cold wave, inland flooding, heat wave.
Home prices
+4.4% in a year
Up 48% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Cleveland, OH area, 2026 Q2.
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Cleveland
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Progressive Field in Cleveland
- Kent State University at Kent 30 miles
- Cleveland State University in Cleveland
- University of Akron Main Campus 31 miles
- Case Western Reserve University 3 miles
- Baldwin Wallace University 13 miles
- Lakeland Community College 19 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Cleveland
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Hopkins International Airport CLE | 11 mi | 4,950,345 |
| Akron-Canton Airport CAK | 42 mi | 380,232 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Cleveland
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland State University | in town | 8,969 | $13,754 | 51% |
| Case Western Reserve University | 3 mi | 6,437 | $44,622 | 87% |
| Baldwin Wallace University | 13 mi | 2,842 | $27,222 | 68% |
| Lakeland Community College | 19 mi | 2,773 | $3,765 | 13% |
| John Carroll University | 7 mi | 2,274 | $27,167 | 74% |
| Ursuline College | 11 mi | 670 | $17,186 | 55% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Cleveland
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 8, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around November 3 and the first frost comes around November 12.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Cleveland Burke Airport, OH, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Cleveland.
Wildfire smoke in Cleveland
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Cleveland on about 122 days a year, including about 28 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Cleveland
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 169,683 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Municipal School District | Pre-K to 12 | 33,143 | 93 | 16.7 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Parma City School District (9,001 students), Berea City School District (5,332 students), Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District (5,019 students), Euclid City School District (4,464 students), Shaker Heights City School District (4,400 students), Lakewood City School District (4,369 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Cleveland's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Cleveland's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Scranton, PA66% matchCompare
- Rockford, IL63% matchCompare
- Milwaukee, WI61% matchCompare
- Racine, WI60% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Cleveland
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Cleveland
- Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort 16 miles
- Alpine Valley Ski Area 21 miles
- Mountain View at Edinboro 86 miles
- Peek'n Peak 107 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Cleveland
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 2.5 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 6% below the US average (BEA).
Cons
- Data Winters are snowy: about 64 inches a year.
- Data Poverty is high: 30.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
Cleveland report card from locals
0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Cleveland report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.
Rate Cleveland (2 minutes)
Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.
Ask a local about Cleveland
No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Cleveland can answer.
Cleveland through locals' eyes
No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.
Share a photo
Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.
Cities near Cleveland
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parma, OH | 9 mi | 78,581 | $170,100 | 93.9 | Compare |
| Akron, OH | 30 mi | 189,691 | $122,000 | 93.4 | Compare |
| Detroit, MI | 92 mi | 649,095 | $83,900 | 100.3 | Compare |
| Erie, PA | 93 mi | 91,838 | $115,200 | 91.0 | Compare |
| Dearborn, MI | 96 mi | 105,611 | $218,800 | 100.3 | Compare |
| Toledo, OH | 96 mi | 263,423 | $114,500 | 91.5 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Looking at the suburbs? Solon, Bay Village and Avon lead our ranking of the best suburbs of Cleveland.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Cleveland with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Cleveland a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, 6 comfortable months a year, short commutes; the trade-offs are heavy snow, a shrinking population. Compare Cleveland side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Cleveland?
The Census Bureau estimates Cleveland had 363,608 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 372,635 in April 2020 (-2.4%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Cleveland?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $70,400 in the Cleveland area. The median household here earns $40,801.
When is the best time to visit Cleveland?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May to October are the most comfortable months. July averages 81°F and January 35°F for daytime highs.
What county is Cleveland in?
Cleveland is in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Cleveland in?
Cleveland is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Cleveland?
About 653 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Ohio have a state income tax?
Yes. Ohio has a flat income tax with a top rate of 2.75% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Cleveland. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Cleveland, OH metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Cleveland Burke Airport, OH station; snowfall from Cleveland, OH. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.