Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 14 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Hampton
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($99,700 vs $219,800)
Rent averages $368/mo less ($887 vs $1,255)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Cons
Median income trails Hampton by $17,834/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 6.5%)
Hampton, VA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Akron
Households earn $17,834 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$120k less
$99,700 vs $219,800
Hampton
Median Income
$17,834
$64,430 vs $46,596/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
70% lower
247.6 vs 820.3 per 100k
Hampton
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $219,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 137,217 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Akron is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 14 of 23 categories. Akron wins 9 and Hampton 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $219,800 median home), income ($46,596 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Hampton, VA are about 395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.