City comparison
Yes. Cleveland's crime index is 341 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 425 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,060 in Cleveland.
Cleveland and St Louis are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,060 in Cleveland and $997 in St Louis, and median household income lands at $64,468 versus $56,160. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Cleveland pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Cleveland and St Louis are 491 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $997 a month in St Louis, down $63 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $56,160 in St Louis, down $8,308 (13%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 352 in St Louis, up 11 points (3%).
The move
St Louis and Cleveland are 491 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, up $63 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $8,308 (15%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 341 in Cleveland, down 11 points (3%).
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Cleveland and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
St Louis rent is 6% cheaper than Cleveland
Cleveland
$1,060/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,060 in Cleveland, so St Louis is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $63, or $756 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Cleveland's median income is 15% higher than St Louis
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Cleveland (about $8,308 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, Cleveland is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
3% lower crime
Cleveland's crime index is 3% lower than St Louis
Cleveland
Winner341 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Cleveland's crime index is 341 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Cleveland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Cleveland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Louis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
21% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 21% more comfortable than Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis scores 21% 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 better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($64,468). Start with Cleveland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Cleveland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than St Louis (341 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick St Louis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Cleveland on this page's weather index by 21%. Cleveland may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Cleveland at $64,468 median income versus $56,160 in St Louis. Housing ($997 in St Louis, $1,060 in Cleveland) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $63 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,060 in Cleveland.
Pick Cleveland when your field pays toward $64,468 median income. Otherwise, St Louis's case rests on a $997 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for St Louis when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cleveland and St Louis, plus other cities in OH and MO.
