What Stereotypes Do You Hear About Cleveland? (Cincinnati, Ada: condo, schools)

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

America's Sewage System and the Price of Optimism - TIME

Oooooh, I wish I hadn't read that (although I'm sure I did in 1970!). I didn't need to know of the existence of sludge worms wriggling under the sand as I splash around in the lake.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Pretty sure it was. God save the internet, here is that original article that sparked it all. Pun intended.


America's Sewage System and the Price of Optimism - TIME

Obviously, this story caught the nation's attention and did, in fact, help spur the Clean Water Act. The story cited from Time 8/1/69 was not a cover story; thank God for that. Nonetheless, Cleveland is still trying to live-down the fact that the river ''caught'' fire; again, people act as if this just happened.

[Cleveland_Collector]

It wasn't a cover story because it was, unfortunately, quite common around the US -- a point that is also commonly neglected.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by JohnDBaumgardner

Now, can we get back to the topic at hand ... Wonderful, sophisticated, rebounding and affordable CLEVELAND!

That's certainly one stereotype I hear all the time about Cleveland: that it is "affordable".

I just found something that might shed new light on that particular notion.

I think we sometimes forget that in order to assess "affordability", one has to take into account not only cost of living, but typical income levels as well.

For example, if the cost of living in City A is twice as high as in City B, but you can make three times the money in City A over City B, then City A is more affordable in real terms, because the dollars you do make stretch further.

Now take a look at the following list. The higher up on the list a city is, the further a typical paycheck stretches there. Look at the cities that outrank Cleveland on the list. You're bound to find a few surprises there.

The Cities Where A Paycheck Stretches The Furthest

[rtm12]

Originally Posted by andrew61

That's certainly one stereotype I hear all the time about Cleveland: that it is "affordable".

I just found something that might shed new light on that particular notion.

I think we sometimes forget that in order to assess "affordability", one has to take into account not only cost of living, but typical income levels as well.

For example, if the cost of living in City A is twice as high as in City B, but you can make three times the money in City A over City B, then City A is more affordable in real terms, because the dollars you do make stretch further.

Now take a look at the following list. The higher up on the list a city is, the further a typical paycheck stretches there. Look at the cities that outrank Cleveland on the list. You're bound to find a few surprises there.

The Cities Where A Paycheck Stretches The Furthest

Not a lot of meaning to that ranking, or any like it. Cleveland is a very poor city overall, but if you're in a few choice industries, you'll do very, very well in Cleveland.

[Peregrine]

Well, Andrew's math is correct. That's common sense, no?

If you make $40 in CLE, but $120 in MIA... of course you're going to be doing well. In either place, but better in MIA.

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by andrew61

That's certainly one stereotype I hear all the time about Cleveland: that it is "affordable".

I just found something that might shed new light on that particular notion.

I think we sometimes forget that in order to assess "affordability", one has to take into account not only cost of living, but typical income levels as well.

For example, if the cost of living in City A is twice as high as in City B, but you can make three times the money in City A over City B, then City A is more affordable in real terms, because the dollars you do make stretch further.

Now take a look at the following list. The higher up on the list a city is, the further a typical paycheck stretches there. Look at the cities that outrank Cleveland on the list. You're bound to find a few surprises there.

The Cities Where A Paycheck Stretches The Furthest

This list seems odd to me. Look at the income for Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Cincy; they all about the same and these cities also have roughly the same cost of living. So why does Cleveland rate so much lower on that list than the other two cities (which are listed ahead of Chicago).

Furthermore, there is just no way the Chicago is easier on the wallet than Cleveland. Chicago might pay a bit more but it does not offset the higher cost of living by any means.

[Natural510]

Why are you all still hung up on the river fire? By that, I mean trying to downplay it. These days you mightas well embrace it as a part of Cleveland's history and laugh at yourselves, like GLBC has done. Otherwise, you're left open for outsiders to use it against you forever....

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

- Cold, depressing
- Good "bang for the buck" in terms of housing
- A hidden gem that is actually nice - suburbs, quaintness, lakefront
- Brawny, blue collar, and "river on fire"
- Good medical hub - Case Western and The Cleveland Clinic

That about covers it for me, if you add gritty left-wing politicians (Metzenbaum, Kucinich, Sherrod Brown). Gotta take the good with the bad...ask an Oaklander.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by 5Lakes

Chicago might pay a bit more but it does not offset the higher cost of living by any means.

Same with Philadelphia. I may be making 20 percent more in salary, but I'm spending twice as much on housing and property taxes.

[Natural510]

Originally Posted by 5Lakes

This list seems odd to me. Look at the income for Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Cincy; they all about the same and these cities also have roughly the same cost of living. So why does Cleveland rate so much lower on that list than the other two cities (which are listed ahead of Chicago).

My first guess is probably "skyline" and second is University. Pitt and UC are more well-regarded than anything in Cleveland, which is what many of those publications take into account (education & finance) over artistic institutions (where Cleveland is superior). But overall, it's skyline. Take a look over on the City vs City forum to see how enamoured people are with skylines when comparing cities...something about skyscrapers housed by banks and insurance companies built on top of hills makes obsessive urbanites wet their pants.