Cleveland OH vs Waterbury CT — 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%

Waterbury, CT

Connecticut · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$280,921
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Cleveland

367,523

Waterbury

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Cleveland

N/A

Waterbury

N/A

Median Age

Cleveland

36.3

Waterbury

N/A

Foreign Born

Cleveland

6.1%

Waterbury

N/A

White

Cleveland

36.7%

Waterbury

N/A

Black

Cleveland

46.8%

Waterbury

N/A

Asian

Cleveland

2.3%

Waterbury

N/A

Hispanic

Cleveland

12.8%

Waterbury

N/A

Spanish at Home

Cleveland

N/A

Waterbury

N/A

Metric	Cleveland, OH	Waterbury, CT	Better
Population	367,523	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	36.3	N/A	-
Foreign Born	6.1%	N/A	-
White	36.7%	N/A	-
Black	46.8%	N/A	-
Asian	2.3%	N/A	-
Hispanic	12.8%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Cleveland

$39,187

Waterbury

N/A

Per Capita Income

Cleveland

$27,078

Waterbury

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Cleveland

$58,300

Waterbury

$85,393

Waterbury +

Unemployment Rate

Cleveland

11.5%

Waterbury

N/A

Poverty Rate

Cleveland

30.8%

Waterbury

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Cleveland

21.3%

Waterbury

N/A

Metric	Cleveland, OH	Waterbury, CT	Better
Median HH Income	$39,187	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$27,078	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$58,300	$85,393	Waterbury +
Unemployment Rate	11.5%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	30.8%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	21.3%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Cleveland

$117,703

Cleveland +

Waterbury

$280,921

Homeownership Rate

Cleveland

41.2%

Waterbury

N/A

Metric	Cleveland, OH	Waterbury, CT	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$117,703	$280,921	Cleveland +
Homeownership Rate	41.2%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cleveland

319

Waterbury

156

Waterbury +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cleveland

1866

Waterbury

1524

Waterbury +

Metric	Cleveland, OH	Waterbury, CT	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	319	156	Waterbury +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1866	1524	Waterbury +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Cleveland

42.2%

Waterbury

40.5%

Waterbury +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Cleveland

17.7%

Waterbury

14.1%

Waterbury +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Cleveland

19.6%

Waterbury

19.1%

Waterbury +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Cleveland

13.4%

Cleveland +

Waterbury

18.5%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Cleveland

16.2%

Waterbury

13.2%

Waterbury +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Cleveland

21.5%

Waterbury

16.2%

Waterbury +

Metric	Cleveland, OH	Waterbury, CT	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	42.2%	40.5%	Waterbury +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	17.7%	14.1%	Waterbury +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	19.6%	19.1%	Waterbury +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	13.4%	18.5%	Cleveland +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	16.2%	13.2%	Waterbury +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	21.5%	16.2%	Waterbury +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cleveland

52.7°F

Waterbury

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cleveland

36.4 in

Waterbury

N/A

Metric	Cleveland, OH	Waterbury, CT	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	52.7°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	36.4 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Cleveland

10.3 µg/m³

Waterbury

7.7 µg/m³

Waterbury +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Cleveland

55.0%

Waterbury

75.0%

Waterbury +

Metric	Cleveland, OH	Waterbury, CT	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	10.3 µg/m³	7.7 µg/m³	Waterbury +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Waterbury +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Cleveland

24.3 min

Waterbury

N/A

Metric	Cleveland, OH	Waterbury, CT	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	24.3 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Cleveland offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $117,703. On public safety, Waterbury is safer with a violent crime rate of 156 per 100,000 residents, compared to 319 in Cleveland. Waterbury has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Waterbury scores better with a lower obesity rate of 40.5%.

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About Cleveland & Waterbury

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