City comparison
No. Lubbock's crime index is 189 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 221 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,182 in Lubbock.
Safety is where Cleveland and Lubbock split most clearly. Lubbock scores 152 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,182 in Lubbock.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cleveland is the easier city on typical rent, but Lubbock can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Lubbock has rougher pockets and Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Cleveland and Lubbock are 1,229 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, up $122 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $60,895 in Lubbock, down $3,573 (6%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 189 in Lubbock, down 152 points (45%).
The move
Lubbock and Cleveland are 1,229 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $122 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $3,573 (6%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 341 in Cleveland, up 152 points (80%).
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Cleveland and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 10% cheaper than Lubbock
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Lubbock
$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,182 in Lubbock, so Cleveland is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,464, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cleveland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Lubbock.
Planning to buy in Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Cleveland's median income is 6% higher than Lubbock
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
Lubbock
$60,895
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $60,895 in Lubbock, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Cleveland (about $3,573 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
45% lower crime
Lubbock's crime index is 45% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
Winner189 (100 = avg)
Lubbock's crime index is 189 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Lubbock. 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, Lubbock 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
39% more comfortable
Lubbock weather is 39% more comfortable than Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Lubbock
Winner62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs). Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lubbock averages around 62°F. Lubbock scores 39% 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 and professional growth
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
Cleveland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($64,468). Start with Cleveland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Lubbock if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Cleveland on this page's weather index by 39%. Cleveland may pay more or cost less, but Lubbock is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Lubbock is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Cleveland (189 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Lubbock: Lubbock scores 41/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland, with typical rent at $1,182 versus $1,060. I would vet the exact ZIP in Cleveland before trading 18 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (41/100 in Lubbock vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,182 in Lubbock.
Lubbock clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Cleveland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Cleveland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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