City Comparison
Springfield vs Akron
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Springfield scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Springfield
Akron
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Springfield is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
27% lower than in Akron.
Housing costs are a major driver: Springfield's average rent is
15% lower than Akron's.
| Metric | Springfield | Akron | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,123 | -15% |
| Groceries | $400 | $742 | -46% |
| Utilities | $180 | $234 | -23% |
| Transport | $120 | $357 | -66% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $130 | +92% |
| Monthly Total | $1,900 | $2,586 | -27% |
| Cost Index | 85 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Akron offers 32% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Akron delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Springfield is estimated at
$33,240 vs $66,000 in Akron.
| Metric | Springfield | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $49,276 | $73,000 |
| Salary Needed | $33,240 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 57,972 idx | 85,882 idx |
| Household Income | $47,143 | $48,076 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Springfield | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 65.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Springfield scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Akron leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Springfield | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 13.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 6.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Akron is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Springfield.
From a growth perspective, Springfield is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Akron has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Springfield | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 58,190 | 189,664 |
| Pop. Growth | — | — |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Springfield
Advantages
Cost of living is approximately 15% below the national average, with housing costs running about 46% below the national norm. [25]
Median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $920 per month, significantly lower than the national average of $1,430. [25]
The median home value in Springfield is $102,100, which is 64% below the national average. [41]
Springfield has a lower rent-to-income ratio compared to other small metros in Ohio, indicating better rental affordability. [14]
The city is actively working on downtown revitalization, with new residential housing and entertainment venues. [30]
Drawbacks
Springfield has a high crime rate, significantly above both state and national averages, with a concerning trend in violent and property crimes. [9, 26]
The violent crime rate in Springfield is 1371.1 per 100,000 residents, which is substantially higher than the national average. [9]
Springfield has one of the highest crime rates in America, with a chance of becoming a victim of crime being one in 17. [26]
The city's walkability score is very low, indicating a high dependency on cars for transportation. [22, 38]
The median household income of $47,143 is below the national average, and the poverty rate is 23.1%, higher than the national average. [3, 39]
Akron
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Akron is 15% lower than the national average, making it a highly affordable city.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, with average monthly rent at $1,123 and median home prices around $153,000.
Akron has a diverse economy with strong industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and the polymer sector.
The city offers a public transportation system (METRO RTA) with affordable monthly passes at $50.
Healthcare costs in Akron are approximately 14% lower than the national average.
Drawbacks
Akron has a high crime rate, with an overall crime rate 50% above the national average and a safety grade of C-.
The city is experiencing a projected population decline of -0.9% annually.
Akron has a negative job growth rate, with a 0.461% decline in employed population in 2024.
The lifestyle in Akron is largely car-dependent, with most errands requiring a vehicle and an average Walk Score of 48.
The median household income of $48,076 in 2024 is below the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Springfield
#472Ohio, USA
54.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
13.0/100
Walkability
6.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
70
Business
60
Akron
#575Ohio, USA
46.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,123
Avg Salary
$73,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
65
Business
55
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