Cleveland 71 Excellent
Cleveland Livability #391 ranked city in Ohio#6,495 ranked city in the USARanks better than 77% of areas
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Cleveland, OH - The Forest City

Cleveland, OH, known as 'The Forest City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban life. Located in northeastern Ohio, Cleveland is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Akron and Parma enhance its status as a central point in the region. Cleveland's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.

Cleveland is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the historic West Side Market. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Cleveland Metroparks to the bustling Playhouse Square, known for its theaters and entertainment venues. Cleveland's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from classic American fare to international cuisine.

Annual events such as the Cleveland International Film Festival and the Cleveland Feast of the Assumption Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Cleveland's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Case Western Reserve University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.

The arts and culture scene in Cleveland is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Cleveland Orchestra and the Museum of Contemporary Art are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Cleveland provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.

Cleveland’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Browns (NFL) and the Cavaliers (NBA), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Cleveland include healthcare, manufacturing, and finance, with significant employers such as Cleveland Clinic and KeyBank driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and the RTA rail system, making commuting convenient.

Pros and Cons of Living in Cleveland

PROS
  • Amenities Amenities

    An abundance of amenities, including restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores and fitness facilities, are conveniently situated within walking distance of the area.

  • Commute Commute

    High commute scores indicates that public transit should be easily accessible in this area and the average commute time to work is less than average.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Crime Crime

    This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.

  • Schools Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Cleveland?

Located in the state of Ohio, Cleveland is a highly populated city with a population of 391,340 inhabitants. With a population density of 5,037 people per square mile, Cleveland is well above the nation's average density level. Cleveland is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (40%) and Black or African American (48%). Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Cleveland, only 33% of the population is married. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Cleveland, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 24 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Cleveland could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Ohio if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, commute, health & safety, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Cleveland and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Cleveland to Ohio and the national average.

Cleveland, OH receives 72 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #347 in Ohio and #5,639 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we see that Cleveland ranks very well for amenities (A+) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Cleveland does not have favorable grades for the following: crime (F), education (D-) and employment (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

Living in Cleveland offers many benefits and offers an extensive array of local amenities. These amenities play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in this vibrant community. From readily accessible grocery stores to charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and generously spaced parks, Cleveland provides a wide spectrum of resources for its residents. This ensures that your daily requirements are effortlessly met and creates abundant opportunities for leisure and recreation. The abundant local offerings contribute to the area's overall appeal, making it an attractive destination for those seeking convenience, variety and a fulfilling lifestyle. If you're considering a move, the wealth of local amenities continues could be a defining feature of this remarkable locale. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, West Side Market, and West Side Market.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Cleveland can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Assuming that Cleveland meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Cleveland. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Cleveland are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Cleveland come in at $128,738, which is 45.2% lower than the Ohio average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Cleveland, the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 12.9% lower than the Ohio average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Cleveland

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      Cleveland transportation information

      Statistic Cleveland Ohio National
      Average one way commute24min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work68.8%83.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.1%7.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit8.8%1.7%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.6%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.8%2.3%2.8%
      Working from home5.6%3.7%4.6%
      Source: The Cleveland, OH data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.