Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Buffalo, NY
🏆 Akron leads 13 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273
Buffalo
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $32k less ($99,700 vs $132,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
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
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 7.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Buffalo, NY
Pros
14% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.0%)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$32k less
$99,700 vs $132,100
Akron
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 80.2°F
Buffalo
Violent Crime
14% lower
706.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Buffalo
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Buffalo, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $132,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $942 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 ✓ Higher | $46,184 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" ✓ Less | 95.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 276,688 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 22.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Buffalo's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Akron is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Akron leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 13 and Buffalo wins 10. 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 Buffalo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $132,100 median home), income ($46,596 vs $46,184), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Buffalo, NY are about 185 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.