Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Akron leads 16 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$46,596 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
39% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (7.7%)
Households earn $5,153 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 22.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Dayton, OH
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Akron by $5,153/yr
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 7.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Median Income
$5,153
$46,596 vs $41,443/yr
Akron
Violent Crime
39% lower
820.3 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Akron
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
7.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Dayton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$14k less
$86,200 vs $99,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 12.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 137,305 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Akron leads 16 of 23 categories. Akron wins 16 and Dayton wins 7. 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 Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $86,200 median home), income ($46,596 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Dayton, OH are about 167 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.