City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,060 in Cleveland.
Safety is where Cleveland and Toledo split most clearly. Toledo scores 120 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 $934 in Toledo.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo 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.
The crime gap is citywide. Toledo has rougher pockets and Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Cleveland and Toledo are 97 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $934 a month in Toledo, down $126 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $62,224 in Toledo, down $2,244 (3%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 221 in Toledo, down 120 points (35%).
The move
Toledo and Cleveland are 97 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, up $126 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $2,244 (4%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 341 in Cleveland, up 120 points (54%).
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Cleveland and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Toledo rent is 12% cheaper than Cleveland
Cleveland
$1,060/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,060 in Cleveland, so Toledo is 12% 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 $1,512, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Toledo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Cleveland.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Cleveland's median income is 4% higher than Toledo
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Cleveland (about $2,244 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
35% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 35% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
8% more comfortable
Cleveland weather is 8% more comfortable than Toledo
Cleveland
Winner53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cleveland scores 8% 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 Toledo 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 4% higher ($64,468), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 53°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Cleveland (221 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 Toledo: Toledo scores 36/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland, with typical rent at $934 versus $1,060. I would vet the exact ZIP in Cleveland before trading 13 safety points for housing savings.
With only $126 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 53°F in Cleveland and 51°F in Toledo.
Toledo 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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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cleveland and Toledo, plus other cities in OH.
