Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 Tallahassee leads 11 of 20 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
Tallahassee
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3
Median Household Income
$52,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($99,700 vs $256,400)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($887 vs $1,165)
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
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tallahassee
Cons
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
Median income trails Tallahassee by $6,303/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.5%)
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 37°F
Households earn $6,303 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 95.3 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$157k less
$99,700 vs $256,400
Tallahassee
Median Income
$6,303
$52,899 vs $46,596/yr
Tallahassee
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Tallahassee
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.3 |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $256,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,165 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $52,899 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 49.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 198,259 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Akron is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Tallahassee leads 11 of 20 categories. Akron wins 9 and Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $256,400 median home), income ($46,596 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Tallahassee, FL are about 750 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.