Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 22 categories
Akron
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($99,700 vs $159,300)
Rent averages $89/mo less ($887 vs $976)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Paso by $9,114/yr
Property crime (2955.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.8%)
El Paso, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Akron
Households earn $9,114 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
More college-educated — 27.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Median Home Value
$60k less
$99,700 vs $159,300
El Paso
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Income
$9,114
$55,710 vs $46,596/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
66% lower
278.4 vs 820.3 per 100k
El Paso
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
El Paso
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $159,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $976 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $55,710 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 27.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 81.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 2.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 677,181 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 22 categories. Akron wins 8 and El Paso wins 14. 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 El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $159,300 median home), income ($46,596 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and El Paso, TX are about 1,517 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.