Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena 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
Pasadena
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $882k less ($99,700 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1213/mo less ($887 vs $2,100)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 6 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 Pasadena by $51,222/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 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,222 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Akron
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) 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
Median Home Value
$882k less
$99,700 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$51,222
$97,818 vs $46,596/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
41% lower
480.4 vs 820.3 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Akron is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 15 of 23 categories. Akron wins 8 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $981,600 median home), income ($46,596 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Pasadena, CA are about 2,044 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.