City comparison
Yes. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Cleveland split most clearly. Oklahoma City scores 158 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,060 in Cleveland.
Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Oklahoma City has rougher pockets and Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Cleveland are 950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $70 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $4,188 (6%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 341 in Cleveland, up 158 points (86%).
The move
Cleveland and Oklahoma City are 950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $70 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $4,188 (6%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 158 points (46%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 6% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so Cleveland is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $70, or $840 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 Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 6% higher than Cleveland
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Oklahoma City (about $4,188 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
46% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 46% lower than Cleveland
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in Oklahoma City. 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, Oklahoma City 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
35% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 35% more comfortable than Cleveland
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 35% 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 6% higher ($68,656), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Oklahoma City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Cleveland (183 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 6% 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
Cleveland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 42/100 in Oklahoma City). That 19-point spread matters more than the $70 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (42/100 in Oklahoma City vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
Pick Oklahoma City when you want the stronger safety signal (42/100). Otherwise, Cleveland's case rests on a Cleveland ZIP you trust at $1,060 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Cleveland, plus other cities in OK and OH.
