Akron vs Cincinnati
Compare Akron, OH and Cincinnati, OH on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $962/mo in Akron and $990/mo in Cincinnati, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,039/mo and $1,195/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (248 vs 256 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 86°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Akron; if walkable daily life matters more, Akron screens stronger on the walkability proxy (20 vs 19). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Cincinnati leads 83 to 74 on the work screen.
Cincinnati leads 47 to 39 on the daily life screen.
Akron leads 62 to 55 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Akron is roughly $63,750 in Cincinnati using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Akron | Cincinnati | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $962/mo | $990/mo | Akron |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,039/mo | $1,195/mo | Akron |
| Median home value | $186,000 | $221,000 | Akron |
| State income tax | 2.8% | 2.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 27.1 min | Akron |
| Safety score | 83/100 | 65/100 | Akron |
| School score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 20/100 | 19/100 | Akron |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 5/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 181.0 | 176.4 | Akron |
| Mountain distance | 56 mi | 9 mi | Cincinnati |
| Coast distance | 281 mi | 390 mi | Akron |
What stands out
Akron stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 11 miles
- Mountain access within 56 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Akron tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Cincinnati stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 18 miles
- Mountain access within 9 miles
Cincinnati tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Akron cheaper than Cincinnati?
On public benchmarks Akron is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $962/mo in Akron vs $990/mo in Cincinnati; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,039/mo vs $1,195/mo; state income tax is 2.8% vs 2.8%.
Is Akron or Cincinnati safer?
Akron screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 83/100 for Akron and 65/100 for Cincinnati (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Akron or Cincinnati?
School screens show 6/10 for Akron vs 6/10 for Cincinnati, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Akron and Cincinnati?
Akron: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 16°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Cincinnati: 86°F / 18°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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