City comparison
Austin is safer than Cleveland. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Cleveland split most clearly. Austin scores 179 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,060 in Cleveland.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Cleveland are 1,184 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $669 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $29,190 (31%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 341 in Cleveland, up 179 points (110%).
The move
Cleveland and Austin are 1,184 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $669 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $93,658 in Austin, up $29,190 (45%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 162 in Austin, down 179 points (52%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 39% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,729 in Austin, so Cleveland is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $669/month back in your pocket ($8,028/year). Over five years that's $40,140 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cleveland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
Austin's median income is 45% higher than Cleveland
Austin
Winner$93,658
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Austin (about $29,190 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
52% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 52% lower than Cleveland
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Austin weather is 28% more comfortable than Cleveland
Austin
Winner74°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland
57°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 78/100
Austin averages about 74°F (81°F highs); Cleveland averages about 57°F (62°F highs). Austin sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cleveland averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 28% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Cleveland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 45% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than Cleveland (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Cleveland at $1,060/month versus $1,729 in Austin ($669 apart). Austin median income is $93,658 against $64,468 in Cleveland, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Cleveland rent at $1,060/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
If housing cost drives your move, Cleveland is the stronger match ($1,060/month rent against $1,729). If an employer or family tie already points to Austin, treat $1,729/month rent and $93,658 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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