City Comparison
Hilo vs Akron
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Akron scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Hilo
Akron
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Akron is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
11% lower than in Hilo.
Housing costs are a major driver: Hilo's average rent is
31% higher than Akron's.
| Metric | Hilo | Akron | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,466 | $1,123 | +31% |
| Groceries | $600 | $742 | -19% |
| Utilities | $475 | $234 | +103% |
| Transport | $150 | $357 | -58% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $130 | +54% |
| Monthly Total | $2,891 | $2,586 | +12% |
| Cost Index | 146 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Akron offers 43% 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 Hilo is estimated at
$98,000 vs $66,000 in Akron.
| Metric | Hilo | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $41,708 | $73,000 |
| Salary Needed | $98,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 28,567 idx | 85,882 idx |
| Household Income | $81,779 | $48,076 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Hilo | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 75.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Akron has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Hilo.
Hilo 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 | Hilo | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 20.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 23.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 60.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Akron is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Hilo.
From a growth perspective, Hilo is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Hilo has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Hilo | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 50,404 | 189,664 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.78% | — |
| Median Age | 42.7 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.50% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Hilo
Advantages
Hilo boasts a lush, tropical environment with abundant natural beauty, including waterfalls and volcanic landscapes.
The city is a cultural hub, hosting significant events like the Merrie Monarch Festival, celebrating Hawaiian culture.
The job market in Hilo saw a healthy employment growth rate of 4.88% from 2023 to 2024.
Healthcare and Educational Services are strong and growing industries, offering stable employment opportunities.
The homeownership rate in Hilo is 66.1%, which is higher than the national average.
Drawbacks
The overall cost of living in Hilo is significantly higher than the national average, particularly for housing, utilities, and groceries.
Hilo has a high property crime rate, which is 41% higher than the national average, making residents more susceptible to theft.
Public transportation is minimal and unreliable, making the city largely car-dependent for daily errands and commutes.
Utility costs, especially for electricity, are exceptionally high due to reliance on imported fuel.
The average rent for apartments, particularly 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units, is considerably higher than many mainland cities.
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.
Hilo
#601Hawaii, USA
39.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,466
Avg Salary
$41,708
Cost Index
146
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
23.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.78%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
70
Business
65
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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