Akron vs Cleveland
Compare Akron, OH and Cleveland, 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 $957/mo in Cleveland, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,039/mo and $1,108/mo. Across the four public-data screens Akron comes out ahead (248 vs 231 summed points), though Cleveland still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 84°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Cleveland; if walkable daily life matters more, Akron screens stronger on the walkability proxy (20 vs 11). 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.
Cleveland leads 84 to 74 on the work screen.
Akron leads 39 to 24 on the daily life screen.
Akron leads 62 to 50 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Akron is roughly $85,000 in Cleveland using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Akron | Cleveland | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $962/mo | $957/mo | Cleveland |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,039/mo | $1,108/mo | Akron |
| Median home value | $186,000 | $190,000 | Akron |
| State income tax | 2.8% | 2.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 26.2 min | Akron |
| Safety score | 83/100 | 59/100 | Akron |
| School score | 6/10 | 4/10 | Akron |
| Walkability estimate | 20/100 | 11/100 | Akron |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 5/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 181.0 | 0 | Akron |
| Mountain distance | 56 mi | 81 mi | Akron |
| Coast distance | 281 mi | 304 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
Cleveland stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 17 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Cleveland tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Akron cheaper than Cleveland?
On public benchmarks Cleveland is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $962/mo in Akron vs $957/mo in Cleveland; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,039/mo vs $1,108/mo; state income tax is 2.8% vs 2.8%.
Is Akron or Cleveland safer?
Akron screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 83/100 for Akron and 59/100 for Cleveland (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Akron or Cleveland?
School screens show 6/10 for Akron vs 4/10 for Cleveland, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Akron and Cleveland?
Akron: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 16°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Cleveland: 84°F / 12°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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