Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Evansville leads 12 of 22 categories
Akron
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Evansville
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
32% less violent crime than Evansville
Homes cost $21k less ($99,700 vs $121,100)
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 5.7%)
Median income trails Evansville by $3,257/yr
Evansville, IN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Households earn $3,257 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 37°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Akron
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Violent Crime
32% lower
820.3 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Akron
Median Home Value
$21k less
$99,700 vs $121,100
Evansville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Income
$3,257
$49,853 vs $46,596/yr
Evansville
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Evansville
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $121,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $917 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $49,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 89.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 10.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 116,906 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Evansville leads 12 of 22 categories. Akron wins 10 and Evansville wins 12. 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $121,100 median home), income ($46,596 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Evansville, IN are about 385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.