CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

41.53° N · 81.58° W · GEOID 3923380

East Cleveland

Cuyahoga County, Ohio · part of the Cleveland, OH metro

OhioEast Cleveland, OHEast ClevelandEast Cleveland

The short answer

East Cleveland is home to 13,534 people. Median household income is $22,116 a year and median rent is $776 a month, 42.1% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). That is above the usual 30% line for cost burden. The median home is valued at $68,800, about 3.1x annual median household income.

What sets East Cleveland apart is how tight household budgets are. Money left after rent is $13,200, against $38,000 in its closest peers. Also notable: Unemployment is 18.4%, against 7.4% in its closest peers.

2OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

East Cleveland scores better than 2% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 290th of 290 in Ohio.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%36
Economy 20%0
Safety 20%5
Amenities 15%46
Education 10%15
Commute 10%50
Growth 5%1
Median gross rent
$776
43% below the median place
Median household income
$22,116
72% below the median place
Median home value
$68,800
78% below the median place
Unemployment
18.4%
276% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about East Cleveland

  • HousingHalf the homes were built before 1938, older housing than in 99% of the 2,300 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 290 Ohio places we track.
01

Moving to East Cleveland

Cuyahoga County loses about 7.4 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in32,137
Moved out39,258
Net−7,121

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Lorain County, OH3,2704,971−1,701
Summit County, OH2,6213,517−896
Lake County, OH2,3563,175−819
Medina County, OH1,6762,638−962
Franklin County, OH1,1021,365−263
Portage County, OH8731,151−278
Geauga County, OH728949−221
Cook County, IL501620−119

Within Ohio, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within OhioOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$67K
Leavers$80K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Cuyahoga County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
2.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.7% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Cuyahoga County report $66,800 a year in income on average; those leaving, $80,400, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$31,000 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $776 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,254 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $68,800.
Getting to work
25 minutes each way on average; 9.1% work from home; 16.3% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Watervliet, NY matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
2.0%
65% below the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people8
-7.4
below the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving out8
$80,440
14% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureEast ClevelandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year12.0%65% below
Moved from another state1County figure1.7%14% below
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure-7.4below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$66,8455% below
Income of households moving out8County figure$80,44014% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median rent takes 42.1% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 99% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the highest of 290 Ohio places we track.

East Cleveland42.1%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$31,040
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
42.1%
106% above the median place
Home price to income
3.1x
18% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
42%
well over the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$13,100
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in East Cleveland, $776 a month, and local prices for everything else (96.9 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like East Cleveland, but easier on the budget

Places that match East Cleveland on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Watervliet, NY9722.4% vs 42.1%$32,200Compare
Nazareth, PA9524.7% vs 42.1%$30,100Compare
Highland Park, MI9528.2% vs 42.1%$7,500Compare
Washington, PA9420.6% vs 42.1%$29,100Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in East Cleveland.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to East Cleveland? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median year built1
1938
2% below the median place
Median home value1
$68,800
78% below the median place
Vacant homes1
30.3%
330% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureEast ClevelandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$77643% below
Rent to income142.1%106% above
Property tax rate11.9%112% above
Home price to income13.1x18% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure93.97% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,27421% below
HUD area median income4County figure$105,0002% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,32959% below
Median home value1$68,80078% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure5.7%80% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure53.5%4% above
Homeownership137.1%44% below
Renters paying 30%+163.6%26% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,25433% below
Vacant homes130.3%330% above
Median year built119382% below
03

Work and pay

Median household income is $22,116, 72% below the median place.

Median household income1
$22,116
72% below the median place
Unemployment1
18.4%
276% above the median place
Poverty rate1
40.7%
278% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Commutes by transit16.3% 19.1×
Income per person$22,734 −43%
Works from home9.1% −27%
Mean commute25 min +0%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureEast ClevelandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$22,11672% below
Income per person1$22,73443% below
Unemployment118.4%276% above
Average annual pay6County figure$77,27317% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure2.8%24% below
Jobs6County figure692,694360% above
Poverty rate140.7%278% above
Mean commute125 min0% above
Works from home19.1%27% below
Commutes by transit116.3%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Homes with broadband is 73.9%, 20% below the median place.

Homes with broadband1
73.9%
20% below the median place
Household size1
1.9
23% below the median place
Population change since 20207
-3.8%
below the median place (median 1.1%)

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher82.7% −10%
Bachelor's or higher17.3% −46%
Median age44.3 +14%
No health insurance10.0% +56%
Born abroad4.8% −45%
All 9 people measures
MeasureEast ClevelandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population113,5343253rd largest
Population change since 20207-3.8%below (median 1.1%)
Median age144.314% above
Bachelor's or higher117.3%46% below
High school or higher182.7%10% below
Household size11.923% below
Born abroad14.8%45% below
No health insurance110.0%56% above
Homes with broadband173.9%20% below
05

Life in East Cleveland

The nearest National Park Service site is David Berger National Memorial, about 6 miles away.

Founded or incorporated in 1895. 5 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

  • Nela Park listed 1975
  • First Church of Christ in Euclid listed 1978
  • St. Paul's Episcopal Church of East Cleveland listed 1984
  • Forest Hill Park listed 1998
  • Garfield Terrace Apartments listed 2021

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents9.6 −6%
Playgrounds per 10k11.8 +26%
Grocery stores per 10k2.2 +5%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k3.0 −73%
Libraries per 10k0.7 −15%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −85%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi3.6 17.0×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • David Berger National Memorial 6 miles
  • James A. Garfield National Historic Site 15 miles
  • Cuyahoga Valley National Park 20 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars24.2 +16%
Shops31.2 +3%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.0 −2%
Doctors' offices and clinics19.0 −6%
Child care centers3.2 +39%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public school students14
932
81% below the median place
Nearest National Park Service site11
6.0
81% below the median place
Students per teacher14
11.7
24% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureEast ClevelandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools14544% below
Public school students1493281% below
Students per teacher1411.724% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure24.216% above
Shops per 10k9County figure31.23% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure4.02% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure19.06% below
Child care centers per 10k9County figure3.239% above
Parks per 10k109.66% below
Playgrounds per 10k1011.826% above
Grocery stores per 10k102.25% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k103.073% below
Libraries per 10k100.715% below
Named paths and bike trails100.385% below
Transit stops per sq mi103.6above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site116.081% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles114100% above
National Register listings12562% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

The city police department reported 1,713 violent offenses per 100,000 residents, more than in 99% of the 1,457 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the highest of 230 Ohio places we track.

Violent crime per 100k
1,713
above the median place (median 192)
Property crime per 100k
2,930
142% above the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Tornado risk16
99.0
22% above the median place
July average high15
82°F
5% below the median place
Good air days17
43.3%
37% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureEast ClevelandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high15County figure82°F5% below
January average low15County figure21°F18% below
Average temperature15County figure51°F7% below
Annual precipitation15County figure40.0 in9% below
Natural hazard risk16County figure98.06% above
Hurricane risk16County figure62.412% below
Tornado risk16County figure99.022% above
Wildfire risk16County figure56.97% below
Heat wave risk16County figure97.78% above
Median air quality index17County figure5323% above
Good air days17County figure43.3%37% below
08

East Cleveland in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 43% of the median income in 2030, up from 42% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, East Cleveland does better than 36% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 6%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$776/mo (2024)$990/mo$810 to $1,210/mo+4.2%
Median household income$22,116 (2024)$27,500$23,500 to $32,500+3.7%
Median home value$68,800 (2024)$95,000$69,000 to $131,000+5.5%
Population13,229 (2025)13,08012,550 to 13,630−0.2%

The median home would be worth 3.4 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.1 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like East Cleveland

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Tucumcari, NM$704$31,844Compare
Highland Park, MI$688$29,309Compare
Union, SC$832$31,914Compare
Truth or Consequences, NM$714$33,788Compare
Truth or Consequences, NMUnion, SCHighland Park, MITucumcari, NMEast Cleveland, OHEast ClevelandTucumcariHighland ParkUnionTruth or ConsequencesEast ClevelandTucumcariHighland ParkUnionTruth or Consequences

Places built like East Cleveland

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how East Cleveland performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
East Cleveland, OH42.1%1.3%/yr-3.8%
Highland Park, MI28.2%9.7%/yr-8.2%Compare
Watervliet, NY22.4%5.7%/yr-1.3%Compare
Washington, PA20.6%4.5%/yr1.8%Compare
Portsmouth, OH25.8%3.8%/yr-5.2%Compare
Nazareth, PA24.7%0.2%/yr0.5%Compare
North Adams, MA20.0%2.8%/yr-4.4%Compare

Common questions

Is East Cleveland a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 2 out of 100, better than 2% of the places we rate and 290th of 290 in Ohio. Half the homes were built before 1938, older housing than in 99% of the 2,300 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 290 Ohio places we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 8 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is East Cleveland expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 42.1% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $68,800.

What salary do you need to live in East Cleveland?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $31,040 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is East Cleveland safe?

There were 1,713 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to East Cleveland?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Tucumcari, NM, Highland Park, MI, Union, SC and Truth or Consequences, NM.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  14. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  15. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  16. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  17. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares East Cleveland with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for East Cleveland itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/east-cleveland-ohio

Citytistics. “East Cleveland, Ohio.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/east-cleveland-ohio/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.