Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($99,700 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $465/mo less ($887 vs $1,352)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $55,169/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 3.9%)
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $55,169 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Median Home Value
$267k less
$99,700 vs $366,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.8 on the COL index
Hoover
Median Income
$55,169
$101,765 vs $46,596/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
90% lower
78.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories. Akron wins 6 and Hoover wins 17. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $366,200 median home), income ($46,596 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Hoover, AL are about 606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.