Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno 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
Reno
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($99,700 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($887 vs $1,360)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $26,477/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 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $26,477 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$362k less
$99,700 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$26,477
$73,073 vs $46,596/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
35% lower
529.6 vs 820.3 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ 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 | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Akron is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 16 of 23 categories. Akron wins 7 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $462,100 median home), income ($46,596 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Reno, NV are about 2,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.