Who moves to Cleveland, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Cuyahoga County, OH, home of Cleveland, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 31,718from other US counties
- Moved out
- 38,719to other US counties
- Net
- −7,001more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 419tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Lorain County, OH | 3,270 |
| Summit County, OH (Akron) | 2,621 |
| Lake County, OH | 2,356 |
| Medina County, OH | 1,676 |
| Franklin County, OH (Columbus) | 1,102 |
| Portage County, OH | 873 |
| Geauga County, OH | 728 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 501 |
| Stark County, OH | 412 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 302 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 299 |
| Allegheny County, PA (Pittsburgh) | 295 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Lorain County, OH | 4,971 |
| Summit County, OH (Akron) | 3,517 |
| Lake County, OH | 3,175 |
| Medina County, OH | 2,638 |
| Franklin County, OH (Columbus) | 1,365 |
| Portage County, OH | 1,151 |
| Geauga County, OH | 949 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 620 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 472 |
| Stark County, OH | 417 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 336 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 332 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 16,396 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Ohio and 15,322 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Franklin County, OH (Columbus) | 1,102 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 501 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 302 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 299 |
| Allegheny County, PA (Pittsburgh) | 295 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 227 |
| Hamilton County, OH (Cincinnati) | 221 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 189 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Franklin County, OH (Columbus) | 1,365 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 620 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 472 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 336 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 332 |
| Hamilton County, OH (Cincinnati) | 293 |
| Allegheny County, PA (Pittsburgh) | 293 |
| New York County, NY | 285 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Cleveland come from?
Most people moving into Cuyahoga County, OH come from nearby counties, led by Lorain County, OH (3,270 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Franklin County, OH.
Where do people leaving Cleveland move to?
The top destination is Lorain County, OH (4,971 people). Farther away, the most popular is Franklin County, OH.
Are more people moving to Cleveland or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 31,718 people moved into Cuyahoga County, OH from elsewhere in the US and 38,719 moved out, a net loss of 7,001 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Cleveland with any city it trades people with, like Cleveland vs Columbus, Cleveland vs Chicago, Cleveland vs Phoenix, Cleveland vs Los Angeles.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Cleveland.