Moving to Cleveland, Ohio: What You Want to Know

Cleveland, Ohio at a Glance

Not as cold as Detroit, not as landlocked as Columbus and not as hot as Saint Louis, Cleveland sometimes lives by comparison to other places in the region. But the city that you’ll come to know and love as “The Land” has a style and substance all its own. 

Cleaveland was the real name of this industrial town before a newspaper dropped the “a” to squeeze the city name into its masthead, forever ruffling the feathers of founder Moses Cleaveland, who could only protest from beyond the grave. However you spell it, the CLE is certainly something to write about.  

Sprawled along the shores of Lake Erie, this part-Midwestern, part-Rust Belt capital of northeast Ohio has made a name for itself in iron and industry, in academia and American culture. While much of the Midwest landscape is dotted with hay bales, Cleveland is freckled with rolls of carbon steel, nowhere more so than in the bays of Cleveland-Cliffs, one of the world’s biggest suppliers.  

The construction of the Erie Canal made this centrally located city a hotbed for trade and transportation from its early days. But longstanding institutions like Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinics infuse the city with new talent and new ideas, contributing innovations in sustainability to healthcare and beyond.  

Some aspects of Cleveland’s industry have made the city’s reputation considerably less shiny, though. Take the body of water immortalized in the 1986 R.E.M. ballad “Cuyahoga.” It’s been a long time since the river caught fire, though, and once they removed the incendiary chemicals from this natural wonder following the 1979 blaze, the area has been a gorgeous spot to hike, camp and fish. (Don’t eat anything with more than two eyes.) There’s even a national park in the river valley now.  

Lake Erie is another prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts in Cleveland, whether you’re a fearless ice fisher or a laid-back beachcomber. Between the lake and the Cleveland Metroparks, you’ll no doubt discover that one of the best things about The Land is the landscape. 

Cleveland’s indoor game is just as strong, whether you’re talking b-ball and the Cavaliers or sea fossils at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. And let’s not forget the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland may only have 363,000 residents, but it has the cultural punch of a city many times its size. 

If you’re looking for a place with a diverse business community, a deep cultural base and an affordable lifestyle, Cleveland may be right up your alley. Below, you’ll find our tips for moving to the CLE, from preparing for the weather, planning great weekend activities or finding a new job.  

Get a moving quote now for Cleveland. 

What’s the Weather Like in Cleveland?

Confession: hardly anyone moves to the Midwest for the weather. There just isn’t a market for subzero winters and sweltering summers with a dash of grapefruit-size hail, blizzard warnings, gale-force winds and intermittent tornados. People have always preferred that Twister remain an awkward, throwback party game you play upstairs with your inebriated friends instead of a life-or-death affair you submit to every other spring weekend in the basement with your children and pets, sans Wi-Fi and electricity. But Cleveland’s no ordinary Midwestern city, so some of the things that have scared others off don’t affect the CLE. 

Because of Cleveland’s position on Lake Erie, the weather in the city isn’t as ferociously extreme as it is in other areas. Unlike cities on the eastern banks of the Great Lakes, the climatic puppet master that is Lake Erie only rarely makes Cleveland the butt of its cruel jokes. Expect little in the way of lake-effect snow.  

Each year, Cleveland receives an average of 47.6 inches of frozen precip — enough to shovel and sled on but not enough to impress Buffalonians — and the average winter temperatures range from the low 20s to the mid-30s F. You’ll definitely need winter gear — and an emergency kit in your car isn’t a bad idea, either — but winter weather doesn’t keep Cleveland residents inside. How do you feel about ice skating?  

In the summertime, the lake often suppresses the worst of what the season can dish out, and highs usually keep to the low 80s. The cool air off the water is hard to beat, and public beaches are the place to be in July and August.  

And if all that weren’t enticing enough, there’s spring and fall. How long these glorious seasons will last is a perennial question mark, but it’s hard to beat the Cuyahoga River Valley in these mild-mannered months. See the best places to hang out in the recreation section below. 

What Is Cleveland’s Cost of Living? 

Anyone moving from the coasts will find Cleveland’s cost of living shocking — in a good way. Both food and transportation costs are lower than the national average, but it’s the cost of housing that will leave you gobsmacked.  

Real estate prices from the city to the burbs are so much lower here — even in tony areas like Shaker Heights — that you may wonder why you didn’t make the move to CLE long ago.  

Within the city, the median home value is only $87,400. Compare that to the $192,000 you’ll pay in Cincinnati, $212,500 in Columbus and $281,900 in the U.S. overall. Even across the greater Cleveland metro area, the National Association of Realtors reports falling home prices and an already-low median of $190,700 in Q4 of 2023, half the U.S. average.  

So, what’s the catch? Well, Cleveland also has insufferably low income levels and sky-high poverty rates. More than a third of city residents live at or below the poverty line, and the average household brings in only $37,371/year. The U.S. median is $75,149, for comparison. Further compounding the housing shortage is the number of abandoned properties in the city. Many buildings, sometimes disparagingly referred to as “zombie homes,” were casualties of the last housing collapse, and are now in a dangerous state of disrepair. Housing practices in the city left many residents unable to keep up with payments, which caused widespread displacement. There is little appetite (or funding) to repair many of these once-magnificent residences, whose rehab costs far exceed those for demolition and rebuilding.  

With low homeownership rates, Cleveland’s renters are doubly squeezed. Rental rates here do trend lower than elsewhere in the nation, and the U.S. Census found the median gross rent in Cleveland averaged only $851/month from 2018-2022. But other groups paint a smaller picture. Axios reports the shortage of affordable housing is squeezing renters more than Census data reflects, putting the median rent in 2024 at nearly $1,300/month, a price tag that would cost the average Cleveland resident half their household income.  

What Are Graduation Rates in Cleveland?

There is an appreciable gap between education rates in Cleveland, the state of Ohio, and the U.S. Only 83% of Cleveland residents graduate from high school — 6% lower than the national rate and 9 points below the state rate. College graduation rates show an even bigger disparity. Only 20% of Cleveland residents have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 30% statewide and 34% nationally. Rates are lower in CLE than they are in either Cincinnati or Columbus, both of which beat out the national averages. 

But there are good schools in the city and metro Cleveland area. Cleveland Early College High earns a 5-star rating on its Ohio School Report Card, indicating it significantly exceeds state standards for education. Solon High School, located in the city’s southeastern suburb, is ranked 4th in the state by U.S. News & World Report.  

And let’s not forget Cleveland’s institutions of higher learning, either. Many of the city’s schools are located in University Circle, including Case Western Reserve, which tied for 53rd on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best national universities. Cleveland State University, the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Cleveland Institute of Music and Cuyahoga Community College give local students a wide range of education options while drawing applicants from across the country and even internationally. 

One thing to keep in mind for newcomers: the average hourly wage in Cleveland — $30.37 — is more than a dollar below the national average. That difference for lower-wage occupations like cooks will be felt sharply by workers who, in Cleveland, only earn $16.20/hour compared to their national counterparts earning $17.34/hour. But the disparity may not be as stinging for, say, accountants, whose average wage still tops $40.00/hour in Cleveland, even though it’s $43.65/hour nationally.  

How Is the Job Market in Cleveland?

The city of Cleveland may only have 363,000 people, but the greater metro area has more than 1 million workers in its nonfarm, civilian workforce. Steel is still real in this area of the Rust Belt, and manufacturing powerhouses like Cleveland-Cliffs are just one of the Fortune 500s in the northwest Ohio region. But education and health services is the CLE’s single biggest sector, employing more than 210,000 people, but trade, transportation and utilities is a close second, with 186,600. Professional and business services also employs a substantial number of Cleveland area residents, and 152,500 individuals currently work in this sector.  

Most industries held steady or experienced modest growth between 2023 and 2024, but financial activities and Information did suffer losses in line with national trends, which the unemployment rate followed as well, rising to 4.4% in May 2024. 

If you’re moving to Cleveland for a job, there are lots of interesting companies and organizations to work for. Those in healthcare will likely already be familiar with the Cleveland Clinic, a nationally renowned healthcare and research center, which employs more than 32,000 area residents. University Hospitals employs an additional 16,500. Other top companies include KeyBank, a financial giant headquartered in CLE, Case Western Reserve and Sherwin-Williams. Cleveland hasn’t had an excuse for a boring-looking wall since the housepaint powerhouse was founded more than 150 years ago. 

Can You Get Around Cleveland Without a Car?

One of the things you’ll have to look forward to in a mid-size Midwestern city like Cleveland is a relatively short commute. Residents spend an average of 22 minutes getting to work, and most of them still rely on a car to do it. Highways like I-71, I-77 and 1-90 along Lake Erie, sometimes make it all too easy for people to never want to get around another way. 

But for those looking to make their daily trek greener, the Cleveland RTA offers a four-line light rail system with free trolleys downtown, a commuter rail line and a robust network of buses and rapid transit services (BRT). It will cost you $2.50 for a standard, one-way ride, $5.00 for a daily pass, and $95.00 for a monthly pass.  

Bikers are growing in numbers in this fun city, thanks to efforts to ensure bike-n-ride transit services and more infrastructure for cyclists. Those passionate about the issue should check out the advocacy group Bike Cleveland, which also hosts bike-to-work days and other outings — a perfect way to make friends in your new city. The Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio to Erie Trail provide wonderful recreational pathways — you can even make the 320-mile trip to Cincinnati, if you’re ambitious. 

Where Do Clevelanders Have Fun?

We’ll admit that when it comes to making travel plans, it’s not that Cleveland doesn’t make the top of the list, or that it gets crossed off the list, it’s that it never makes the list to begin with. If your list had radar, it would likely not be sensitive enough to pick up the city of Cleveland. But we’re here to change all that. With great museums, beaches, festivals, sports, and outdoor fun, Cleveland is going to shoot straight to #1 on your chart of Surprisingly Fun Places to Visit. You may even want to move here.  

Outdoors 

Whether you’re pining for a beach vacation or a wooded retreat, Cleveland is an unexpected outdoor destination. With its miles of sandy shoreline, Lake Erie is the city’s largest destination for fun in the sun, but it’s also just as nice on the ice.  

Beaches near downtown Cleveland, like Edgewater, are a beautiful place to relax, swim and even see a free concert. East of the city, you’ll find a more ornithological scene at the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, where, in addition to humans, you might spy golden-crowned kinglets in the spring and northern saw-whet owls in the fall. IYKYK, bird nerds.  

Cedar Point brings the ultimate in shoreside Americana. This amusement park near Sandusky Bay is an easy one-day getaway, where you can get crushed by your children in a game of beach Jenga or test the iron lining of your stomach on rides like the Valravn, which plummets riders face down from 131 feet — more than once — before whirling cars 270° around what feels like a giant Twizzler. Don’t eat any Twizzlers before boarding.  

Those who prefer thrills of the zoological variety will want to hit Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, where you can ride the 35-mph zipline for a bird’s-eye view or the not-so-fast Boomerang Line train to see all your favorite friends, from Egyptian geese to great apes.  

In the winter, break out the ice picks and the rods and reels for a day of frozen fun — ice fishing! Newbs can try out this popular winter sport with a guide, who will hook you up with all the gear you need to hook some tasty perch or walleye. BYO patience.   

Beyond the lake, the spoils of the Cuyahoga River Valley await. Lace up those boots and fill those Camelbacks for a day of hiking and biking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. That’s right, the Cleveland area has its spot on the NPS map. Mountain bikers can race through the East Rim trails for a thrilling workout in the woods. Paddlers can put in on the Cuyahoga and take in the lush vistas from the water, including some transcendent falls. In the winter, strap on the snowshoes or cozy up in the toboggan — CVNP is a great place to be when it snows.  

Those who love the idea of nature more than being one with it can have their peanut butter buckeye cupcakes and eat them, too. If they stop by the White Flower Bakery at the Westside Market, that is. This cake shop is just one of the great vendors at this locals-only hotspot. You can do all your weekly shopping here, whether vegan tofu curry is on the workweek menu or you’re planning a date night of steak frites and crème brûlée.  

Arts and History

Cleveland’s cultural scene packs a punch. As you enter the city, greeted by the Art Deco Guardians of Traffic on the Hope Memorial Bridge, you’ll know that Cleveland is anything but ordinary. Iconic buildings like the Terminal Tower define the Cleveland skyline, and no historic space offers a more elegant shopping and dining experience than the Cleveland Arcade, which opened in 1890. 

One of the city’s newest architectural icons is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Designed by I.M. Pei, this glassy perch overlooking Lake Erie celebrates American musical greats from Chuck Berry to Chicago and Chaka Khan. Rock isn’t the only musical attraction in The Land, though. The Cleveland Orchestra plays at the gorgeous Severance Music Center, and in the summertime, you can catch a concert on their breezy front terrace, cocktail in hand.  

Fans of the visual arts will want to make a beeline to the Cleveland Museum of Art, where you can see a world-class collection in a stunning setting in University Circle, just up the street from Case Western Reserve. The nearby Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art, better known as moCa Cleveland to fans, will debut a new solo show of Ruben Ulises Rodriguez Montoya in 2024.  

From there you can make your way to other top destinations in the city: the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Maltz Performing Arts Center and two kid-approved faves: the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum. This monument to Cleveland’s contributions to the transportation industry includes a 1901 Tri-Moto Crescent — an impossibly elegant, motorized tricycle for two, and a hand-built boat named the Tinkerbelle, which ferried its intrepid sailor Robert Manry from Falmouth to Falmouth — one in Massachusetts and the other in England — in the summer of ’65.  

Sports 

If The Land is the land of anything it is a land of sports. Often the underdogs but ever unfazed, Cleveland’s professional sports roster has seen only a sparing share of victories but that’s never diminished the enthusiasm of its fan base. 

The Cleveland Guardians (née Indians) have gone by many names over their 123-year major-league history, including the Bluebirds, the Bronchos and the Naps. But snoozing hasn’t been what’s dogged this team since its last World Series win in 1948. It’s “the curse of Rocky Colavito.” Perhaps less well known than the Red Sox’s Curse of the Bambino, Cleveland attributes its multi-decade dry spell to the trading of its star home-runner to the Tigers. But if history’s shown us anything it’s that all good curses must come to an end. Perhaps 2024 will be the year Progressive Field shines in the national spotlight.  

Cleveland’s beloved Browns have had a no less heart-wrenching history. Named (by popular demand) for the team’s coach, the Browns haven’t earned a championship title since 1964 — pre-Super Bowl times. But the biggest loss in Brown’s history was in the mid-nineties, when the city lost the team entirely to Baltimore. Thankfully, the football-free period in Cleveland lasted only three years, and by 1999 a new Browns team was born.  

The Cleveland Cavaliers hold the bragging rights to the biggest win in recent times: the 2016 NBA championship title. In addition to defeating the Golden State Warriors, the Cavs have made numerous appearances in the playoffs and finals. But they may be best known for plucking the soon-to-be-super-famous high school player from Akron — LeBron James — in the NBA draft. Time will tell what the 2024-25 season brings at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. 

Then there are the Monsters. We’re not sure that there are any monsters native to northeast Ohio, except for the Loch Ness, which most certainly does haunt Lake Erie. But Nessie doesn’t mess with frozen bodies of water — that’s the exclusive province of the AHL team. Although these ice beasts closed out the 2023-24 season with a loss, it was a hard-fought battle in the finals against the Bears, who the Monsters forced into overtime in game 7. 

Start Planning Your Move to Cleveland

If you’re ready to move to CLE, leave the heavy lifting to the professionals. As the nation’s most trusted mover, Mayflower® can help you relocate to Cleveland from anywhere in the U.S. 

Get a moving quote now for Cleveland. 

Since 1927, Mayflower has helped millions of Americans move across the country. We can help you understand every step of the moving process, from hiring the best movers to settling into your new home. Our dependable team can facilitate your cross-country move to Cleveland from anywhere in the U.S. With a customized, full-service moving package, we can take care of packing, unpacking, storage for your belongings, shipping your car, debris removal and more. Leave everything to Mayflower for a stress-free move.  

If you’re relocating within the city of Cleveland or from another part of Ohio, Mayflower’s interstate Ohio movers are here to assist you under their local businesses and brands. 

Even if you’re handling your own move to Cleveland, you can still use Mayflower’s moving resources or our digital Welcome HOME magazine.   

Get a quote today and let Mayflower guide you Every Step of the Way®.