Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273
Glendale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $892k less ($99,700 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1115/mo less ($887 vs $2,002)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $34,623/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
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,623 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Akron
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Akron
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$892k less
$99,700 vs $992,000
Glendale
Median Income
$34,623
$81,219 vs $46,596/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
65% lower
287.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Glendale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $81,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 194,512 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Akron is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories. Akron wins 8 and Glendale wins 15. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $992,000 median home), income ($46,596 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Glendale, CA are about 2,049 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.