Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Brockton, MA
🏆 Akron leads 15 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Brockton
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($99,700 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $559/mo less ($887 vs $1,446)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $27,420/yr
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2955.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $27,420 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Akron
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$265k less
$99,700 vs $364,700
Brockton
Median Income
$27,420
$74,016 vs $46,596/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
27% lower
599.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Brockton, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $364,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $74,016 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 20.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 81.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Brockton |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 50.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 34.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 104,713 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Brockton's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Akron is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Akron leads 15 of 23 categories. Akron wins 15 and Brockton wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Akron to Brockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $364,700 median home), income ($46,596 vs $74,016), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Brockton, MA are about 547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.