Cleveland OH vs Oceanside CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Cleveland, OH

Ohio · Population: 367,523

  • Median HH Income$39,187
  • Median Home Price$117,703
  • Unemployment11.5%
  • Bachelor's+21.3%

Oceanside, CA

California · Population: 172,542

  • Median HH Income$93,724
  • Median Home Price$877,452
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+34.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cleveland
367,523
Cleveland +
Oceanside
172,542
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cleveland
N/A
Oceanside
N/A
Median Age
Cleveland
36.3
Cleveland +
Oceanside
38.1
Foreign Born
Cleveland
6.1%
Oceanside
20.9%
Oceanside +
White
Cleveland
36.7%
Oceanside
52.9%
Oceanside +
Black
Cleveland
46.8%
Cleveland +
Oceanside
4.2%
Asian
Cleveland
2.3%
Oceanside
7.4%
Oceanside +
Hispanic
Cleveland
12.8%
Oceanside
38.5%
Oceanside +
Spanish at Home
Cleveland
N/A
Oceanside
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cleveland
$39,187
Oceanside
$93,724
Oceanside +
Per Capita Income
Cleveland
$27,078
Oceanside
$43,094
Oceanside +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cleveland
$58,300
Oceanside
$77,230
Oceanside +
Unemployment Rate
Cleveland
11.5%
Oceanside
5.4%
Oceanside +
Poverty Rate
Cleveland
30.8%
Oceanside
8.1%
Oceanside +
Bachelor's Degree+
Cleveland
21.3%
Oceanside
34.3%
Oceanside +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cleveland
$117,703
Cleveland +
Oceanside
$877,452
Homeownership Rate
Cleveland
41.2%
Oceanside
58.5%
Oceanside +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cleveland
319
Cleveland +
Oceanside
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cleveland
1866
Cleveland +
Oceanside
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cleveland
42.2%
Oceanside
26.1%
Oceanside +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cleveland
17.7%
Oceanside
10.4%
Oceanside +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cleveland
19.6%
Oceanside
16.9%
Oceanside +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cleveland
13.4%
Oceanside
9.7%
Oceanside +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cleveland
16.2%
Cleveland +
Oceanside
16.5%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cleveland
21.5%
Oceanside
10.6%
Oceanside +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cleveland
52.7°F
Cleveland +
Oceanside
55.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cleveland
36.4 in
Oceanside
20.7 in
Oceanside +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cleveland
10.3 µg/m³
Oceanside
7.9 µg/m³
Oceanside +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cleveland
55.0%
Oceanside
75.0%
Oceanside +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cleveland
24.3 min
Cleveland +
Oceanside
31.8 min

Which City is Right for You?

Oceanside leads in median household income at $93,724, while cleveland offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $117,703. On public safety, Cleveland is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Oceanside. Oceanside has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, and Oceanside has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Oceanside scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.1%.

Compare More Cities

About Cleveland & Oceanside