Akron vs Dayton
Compare Akron, OH and Dayton, 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 $941/mo in Dayton, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,039/mo and $1,023/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (248 vs 240 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 84°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Dayton; if walkable daily life matters more, Dayton screens stronger on the walkability proxy (21 vs 20). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Dayton leads 76 to 73 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Both cities are close on the daily life screen.
Akron leads 62 to 48 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Akron is roughly $127,500 in Dayton using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Akron | Dayton | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $962/mo | $941/mo | Dayton |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,039/mo | $1,023/mo | Dayton |
| Median home value | $186,000 | $171,000 | Dayton |
| State income tax | 2.8% | 2.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 23.6 min | Dayton |
| Safety score | 83/100 | 56/100 | Akron |
| School score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Akron |
| Walkability estimate | 20/100 | 21/100 | Dayton |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 5/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 181.0 | 174.0 | Akron |
| Mountain distance | 56 mi | 52 mi | Dayton |
| Coast distance | 281 mi | 379 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
Dayton stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 47 miles
- Mountain access within 52 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Dayton tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Akron cheaper than Dayton?
On public benchmarks Dayton is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $962/mo in Akron vs $941/mo in Dayton; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,039/mo vs $1,023/mo; state income tax is 2.8% vs 2.8%.
Is Akron or Dayton safer?
Akron screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 83/100 for Akron and 56/100 for Dayton (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Akron or Dayton?
School screens show 6/10 for Akron vs 5/10 for Dayton, 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 Dayton?
Akron: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 16°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Dayton: 84°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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