Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 14 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273
Sacramento
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($99,700 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($887 vs $1,592)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 3 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 Sacramento by $32,358/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 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,358 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$351k less
$99,700 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$32,358
$78,954 vs $46,596/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
8% lower
754.9 vs 820.3 per 100k
Sacramento
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Akron is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 14 of 23 categories. Akron wins 9 and Sacramento wins 14. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $450,500 median home), income ($46,596 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Sacramento, CA are about 2,108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.