Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Akron leads 12 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,273
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $359k less ($99,700 vs $458,600)
Rent averages $367/mo less ($887 vs $1,254)
5% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $25,761/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 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $25,761 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Violent Crime
5% lower
820.3 vs 864.2 per 100k
Akron
Median Home Value
$359k less
$99,700 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$25,761
$72,357 vs $46,596/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Akron is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Akron leads 12 of 23 categories. Akron wins 12 and Salt Lake City wins 11. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $458,600 median home), income ($46,596 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.