Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Akron leads 12 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($99,700 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $689/mo less ($887 vs $1,576)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $24,771/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
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,771 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Violent Crime
2% lower
820.3 vs 834.7 per 100k
Akron
Median Home Value
$269k less
$99,700 vs $368,800
Lancaster
Median Income
$24,771
$71,367 vs $46,596/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Akron is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Akron leads 12 of 23 categories. Akron wins 12 and Lancaster wins 11. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $368,800 median home), income ($46,596 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Lancaster, CA are about 2,031 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.