Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Vallejo leads 12 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $416k less ($99,700 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $1007/mo less ($887 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $39,516/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 7.0%)
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,516 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$416k less
$99,700 vs $515,500
Vallejo
Median Income
$39,516
$86,112 vs $46,596/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
10% lower
739.8 vs 820.3 per 100k
Vallejo
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Akron is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vallejo leads 12 of 23 categories. Akron wins 11 and Vallejo 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $515,500 median home), income ($46,596 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Vallejo, CA are about 2,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.