Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 22 categories
Akron
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($99,700 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $639/mo less ($887 vs $1,526)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $36,342/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 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $36,342 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$324k less
$99,700 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$36,342
$82,938 vs $46,596/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
52% lower
394.4 vs 820.3 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Akron is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 22 categories. Akron wins 10 and Sparks wins 12. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $423,500 median home), income ($46,596 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Sparks, NV are about 1,998 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.