City comparison
Yes. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Dallas and Cleveland. Dallas averages 67°F while Cleveland averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,472 versus $1,060.
Dallas 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 Dallas 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
Dallas and Cleveland are 1,025 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $412 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $6,050 (9%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 341 in Cleveland, up 153 points (81%).
The move
Cleveland and Dallas are 1,025 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $412 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $70,518 in Dallas, up $6,050 (9%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 188 in Dallas, down 153 points (45%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 28% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Cleveland is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $412/month back in your pocket ($4,944/year). Over five years that's $24,720 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 Dallas, 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 Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Dallas's median income is 9% higher than Cleveland
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Dallas (about $6,050 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
Dallas's crime index is 45% lower than Cleveland
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Dallas. 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, Dallas 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
52% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 52% more comfortable than Cleveland
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Dallas scores 52% 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 9% higher ($70,518), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Dallas 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 (188 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 28% 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
Safety is the widest gap: Dallas scores 41/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland. Rent is $1,472/month in Dallas and $1,060/month in Cleveland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Dallas still pays more locally ($70,518 median income vs $64,468), which can offset the lease if your field pays Dallas rates.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Dallas and 53°F in Cleveland.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Dallas; Cleveland only makes sense when you have walked the Cleveland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,060 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Dallas?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Dallas when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Cleveland, plus other cities in TX and OH.
