Cleveland receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Akron
Cleveland
Opportunity
68 · Top 25%
vs67 · Top 28%
Growth
24 · Bottom 13%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate
64 · Bottom 43%
vs69 · Top 41%
Physical resilience
91 · Top 4%
vs97 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs99 · Top 29%
Access
95 · Top 14%
vs87 · Top 30%
Economic stability
72 · Top 22%
vs64 · Top 34%
Measured values
| Metric | Akron | Cleveland | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 699,820 | 2,171,526 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,371 | $70,678 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,464 | $43,136 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 777/sq mi | 804/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $213,000 | $215,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,033 | $1,050 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.1% | 66.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | -1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 34.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 13.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 678 | 4,287 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 2.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -40.7% | 24.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.5" | 33.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 17 mi | 28 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 25.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.0 | 41.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Akron
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Cleveland
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Akron, OH Metro Area · Cleveland, OH Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology