Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Akron leads 13 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($99,700 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $327/mo less ($887 vs $1,214)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Providence by $14,769/yr
Property crime (2955.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Providence, RI
Pros
66% less violent crime than Akron
Households earn $14,769 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.2%)
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$193k less
$99,700 vs $293,000
Providence
Median Income
$14,769
$61,365 vs $46,596/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
66% lower
276.7 vs 820.3 per 100k
Providence
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Akron is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Akron leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 13 and Providence wins 10. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $293,000 median home), income ($46,596 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Providence, RI are about 525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.