Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo 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 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $784k less ($99,700 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1735/mo less ($887 vs $2,622)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
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 Mission Viejo by $89,974/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 4.4%)
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $89,974 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/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
$784k less
$99,700 vs $883,600
Akron
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$89,974
$136,570 vs $46,596/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
88% lower
99.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Akron is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories. Akron wins 8 and Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $883,600 median home), income ($46,596 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Mission Viejo, CA are about 2,035 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.