Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($99,700 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $812/mo less ($887 vs $1,699)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Commutes run 4 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 Plano by $59,083/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%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $59,083 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$313k less
$99,700 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$59,083
$105,679 vs $46,596/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
82% lower
151.6 vs 820.3 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Akron is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Akron wins 7 and Plano 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $412,500 median home), income ($46,596 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Plano, TX are about 1,004 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.