Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Akron
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($99,700 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $1021/mo less ($887 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $62,672/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%)
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $62,672 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Akron
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$294k less
$99,700 vs $393,700
Germantown
Median Income
$62,672
$109,268 vs $46,596/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $393,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 32.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Akron is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Akron wins 10 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $393,700 median home), income ($46,596 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Germantown, MD are about 261 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.