Cleveland vs University Heights

Which is the better fit for you?

Cleveland, OH
59
Area Score
Top 48% nationally
University Heights, OH
67
Area Score
Top 23% nationally

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University Heights receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

If you are moving

What the difference in prices, rent, homes and weather comes to, using the published figures for the two places. Add your income to see what it would take to keep pace.

Moving from Cleveland to University Heights

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Everyday prices
About the same
Regional price level 92.9 against 92.9 (US = 100). Both places sit in the same price region, so the index cannot tell them apart.
Income to keep the same purchasing power
Enter your household income to see it.
A new two-bedroom lease
+$296 a month
HUD benchmarks it at $1,372 in University Heights against $1,076 in Cleveland.
The median home
138% more
$242,700 in University Heights against $102,000 in Cleveland.
The weather you would swap
Similar winters
Normal January lows are 24°F in University Heights against 24°F in Cleveland; July highs are 81°F against 81°F (summers the same).

These are differences between published figures, not a forecast of your budget. Income and sales taxes, commuting, schools, insurance and the job you would actually get are not in them, and a price index describes a metropolitan area, so two places in one metro read the same. HUD’s rent is a benchmark for a new lease, not a listing.

Signals

Cleveland
University Heights
Opportunity: University Heights is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 35%
vs
74 · Top 18%
Growth: Cleveland is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
53 · Top 43%
vs
43 · Bottom 34%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs
69 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
97 · Top 2%
vs
97 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
70 · Top 41%
vs
70 · Top 40%
Schools: University Heights is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
10 · Bottom 3%
vs
26 · Bottom 19%
Access: Cleveland is the more favorable of the two.
Access
99 · Top 9%
vs
95 · Top 40%
Economic stability: University Heights is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
20 · Bottom 3%
vs
61 · Top 45%

Measured values

MetricClevelandUniversity HeightsSource period
Population366,09713,3942024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$40,801$96,971 — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$28,266$44,523 — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Population density4,710/sq mi7,335/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$102,000$242,7002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$945 — more favorable$1,5072024 ACS 5-Year
Market rent, two bedroom$1,076 — more favorable$1,372FY2025
Cost of living index92.992.92023
Homeownership rate41.7%67.7%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate3.8%3.3% — more favorableJuly 2026
Employment change (year over year)−1.2%−1.2%July 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher22.4%67.5% — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate29.6%9.2% — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)8251012 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents2.3 — more favorable0.712 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)+42.7%+42.9%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high81°F81°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low24°F24°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation33.3"33.3"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport10 mi — more favorable18 miNASR current cycle
Average commute23.8 min20.7 min — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age36.330.52024 ACS 5-Year
Students per teacher16.716.72024-25 school year
Math proficiency31.7%53.1% — more favorable2018-19 school year
Reading proficiency36.3%57.8% — more favorable2018-19 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

The number of units permitted is not marked because the larger place always permits more; the per-resident rate is the fair comparison. The year-over-year change is not marked either: a percentage on fewer than 300 units swings on a handful of permits.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

Cleveland
—
Cleveland: Your Score
59
Area Score
University Heights
—
University Heights: Your Score
67
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: Cleveland, OH · University Heights, OH · How this is calculated: methodology