Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Ontario, 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
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $413k less ($99,700 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $939/mo less ($887 vs $1,826)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $31,474/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 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,474 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Akron
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$413k less
$99,700 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$31,474
$78,070 vs $46,596/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
67% lower
272.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 72 ✓ 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) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Akron is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Akron leads 12 of 23 categories. Akron wins 12 and Ontario 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $513,000 median home), income ($46,596 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Ontario, CA are about 2,020 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.