Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Columbus leads 13 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273
Columbus
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($99,700 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $274/mo less ($887 vs $1,161)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Columbus by $16,398/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
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.2%)
Columbus, OH
Pros
47% less violent crime than Akron
Households earn $16,398 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$113k less
$99,700 vs $212,500
Columbus
Median Income
$16,398
$62,994 vs $46,596/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
47% lower
434.9 vs 820.3 per 100k
Columbus
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.5 |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $212,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,161 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $62,994 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 38.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 90.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Columbus City Schools District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 42.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Columbus's 94.5 (US average = 100).
Akron is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 10 and Columbus wins 13. 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 Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $212,500 median home), income ($46,596 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Columbus, OH are about 108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.