City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,073 in El Paso.
Safety is where El Paso and Cleveland split most clearly. El Paso scores 254 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,060 in Cleveland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cleveland is the easier city on typical rent, but El Paso 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. El Paso has rougher pockets and Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and Cleveland are 1,523 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $13 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $4,723 (8%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 341 in Cleveland, up 254 points (292%).
The move
Cleveland and El Paso are 1,523 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,073 a month in El Paso, up $13 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $59,745 in El Paso, down $4,723 (7%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 87 in El Paso, down 254 points (74%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 1% cheaper than El Paso
El Paso
$1,073/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,073 in El Paso, so Cleveland is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $13, or $156 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 Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Cleveland's median income is 8% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Cleveland (about $4,723 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
74% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 74% lower than Cleveland
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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
El Paso weather is 52% more comfortable than Cleveland
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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. El Paso 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Cleveland on this page's weather index by 52%. Cleveland may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 74% lower than Cleveland (87 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
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 1% 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 8% higher here ($64,468). Start with Cleveland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland. Typical rent is the same $1,073/month in both cities, so you are choosing streets and blocks, not a cheaper lease.
Median income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $59,745 in El Paso — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Between El Paso and Cleveland, El Paso is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 23/100. Lean Cleveland instead when you already know the Cleveland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 66°F in El Paso and 53°F in Cleveland.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Cleveland when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Cleveland, plus other cities in TX and OH.
