Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($99,700 vs $158,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails McAllen by $9,730/yr
Property crime (2955.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.4%)
McAllen, TX
Pros
82% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,730 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Median Home Value
$59k less
$99,700 vs $158,700
McAllen
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$9,730
$56,326 vs $46,596/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
82% lower
150.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
McAllen
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $158,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $955 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. Akron wins 7 and McAllen wins 16. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $158,700 median home), income ($46,596 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and McAllen, TX are about 1,402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.