Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Akron leads 13 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,273
Cincinnati
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($99,700 vs $192,000)
3% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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 6.9%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Households earn $2,595 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Violent Crime
3% lower
820.3 vs 845.6 per 100k
Akron
Median Home Value
$92k less
$99,700 vs $192,000
Cincinnati
Median Income
$2,595
$49,191 vs $46,596/yr
Cincinnati
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.1 |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $192,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $893 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $49,191 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 16.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 308,870 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Akron is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Akron leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 13 and Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $192,000 median home), income ($46,596 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Cincinnati, OH are about 207 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.