Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson 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
Tucson
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($99,700 vs $218,200)
Rent averages $104/mo less ($887 vs $991)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 100°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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 Tucson by $5,453/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.5%)
Tucson, AZ
Pros
28% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 37°F
Households earn $5,453 more per year on average
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$119k less
$99,700 vs $218,200
Tucson
Median Income
$5,453
$52,049 vs $46,596/yr
Tucson
Violent Crime
28% lower
588.8 vs 820.3 per 100k
Tucson
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Tucson
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $218,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $991 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $52,049 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Akron is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 10 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $218,200 median home), income ($46,596 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Tucson, AZ are about 1,730 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.