Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia 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
Visalia
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($99,700 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($887 vs $1,289)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Visalia by $29,062/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 5.6%)
Visalia, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,062 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$217k less
$99,700 vs $316,600
Visalia
Median Income
$29,062
$75,658 vs $46,596/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
47% lower
435.3 vs 820.3 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Visalia
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 101⚠ 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 | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Akron is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 10 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $316,600 median home), income ($46,596 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Visalia, CA are about 2,048 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.