Akron vs Columbus
Compare Akron, OH and Columbus, OH on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Akron is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $962/mo versus $1,146/mo in Columbus — a gap of about $184/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,039/mo against $1,302/mo. Across the four public-data screens Columbus comes out ahead (265 vs 248 summed points), though Akron still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 85°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 18). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Akron leads 73 to 66 on the cost and climate screen.
Columbus leads 84 to 74 on the work screen.
Columbus leads 51 to 39 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Akron is roughly $42,500 in Columbus using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Akron | Columbus | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $962/mo | $1,146/mo | Akron |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,039/mo | $1,302/mo | Akron |
| Median home value | $186,000 | $252,000 | Akron |
| State income tax | 2.8% | 2.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 25.8 min | Akron |
| Safety score | 83/100 | 68/100 | Akron |
| School score | 6/10 | 7/10 | Columbus |
| Walkability estimate | 20/100 | 18/100 | Akron |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 6/10 | Columbus |
| Restaurants per 100k | 181.0 | 176.7 | Akron |
| Mountain distance | 56 mi | 84 mi | Akron |
| Coast distance | 281 mi | 321 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
Columbus stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Trail access within 44 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 43 miles
Columbus tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Akron cheaper than Columbus?
On public benchmarks Akron is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $962/mo in Akron vs $1,146/mo in Columbus; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,039/mo vs $1,302/mo; state income tax is 2.8% vs 2.8%.
Is Akron or Columbus safer?
Akron screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 83/100 for Akron and 68/100 for Columbus (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Akron or Columbus?
School screens show 6/10 for Akron vs 7/10 for Columbus, 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 Columbus?
Akron: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 16°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Columbus: 85°F / 14°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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