Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 13 of 23 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
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($99,700 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1242/mo less ($887 vs $2,129)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $54,122/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 5.5%)
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $54,122 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Akron
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Akron
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$485k less
$99,700 vs $584,700
Stamford
Median Income
$54,122
$100,718 vs $46,596/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
81% lower
157.5 vs 820.3 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Akron is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 10 and Stamford wins 13. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $584,700 median home), income ($46,596 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Stamford, CT are about 415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.