AreaScoop
Akron, OH

Photo: Wikipedia

Akron, OH

Find The Best Places To Live
in Akron

PRO TIP! You can paste a Zillow or Redfin link.

Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 61
Population189,526
Foreign Born3.5%
Population Density3,060people per mi²
Median Age37.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

64/100

36% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Akron, Ohio

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$28k
Comfortable $24k$36k
Luxury $88k+$136k+
Elite (Top 5%) $104k+$161k+
Affordability Ratio

135%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean87%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
10
Negative
8

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

1mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.7mi

Hospital

20 within 20 miles

0.2mi

Airport

Pittsburgh International Airport

77.5mi

Post Office

USPS — Akron, OH

1mi

Critical Amenities

Golf10Nearest 3.1 mi
Camping20Nearest 7.9 mi
Marina0Nearest 19.4 mi
Winery3Nearest 6.1 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0Nearest 12.8 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D-
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$49k+4.2%
35% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$367k
44% below US avg
College Educated
23.3%
33% below US avg
WFH
9.6%
33% below US avg
Homeownership
50.8%
22% below US avg
Median Home
$111k
61% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B-
Safe

Generally safer than 56% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
15.8
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−17.0%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−16.7%
Homicide*
0.04 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery*
0.38 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault*
1.74 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr−17.3%
Burglary*
1.75 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft*
9.70 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft*
1.75 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025* = State-level data substituted where local agency has not published figures

Political Climate

Cook PVI: EVENSwing

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Akron, Ohio
Dem Rep
40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak10.0% of income
Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (40% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season194 days253 frost-free
Annual Rainfall46.4"
Elevation965 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D+
Poor393 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor3,060/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A-
Good2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Hail, Tornado, Strong Wind, Heat Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 129 mi · coast 371 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$102.2M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityCleveland373k people are 30 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital110 miColumbus, OH
Nearest Prison9.4 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T19:21:18.000Z

What your realtor won't tell you!

Find the best place to live

Go beyond the listing to get the inside scoop on any home in the US.

PRO TIP! You can paste a Zillow or Redfin link.