Signals
Akron
Buffalo
Opportunity
56 · Top 50%
vs35 · Bottom 7%
Climate
64 · Bottom 29%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Physical resilience
90 · Top 7%
vs80 · Top 19%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 15%
vs81 · Top 25%
Access
98 · Top 32%
vs97 · Bottom 49%
Economic stability
41 · Bottom 12%
vs33 · Bottom 5%
Measured values
| Metric | Akron | Buffalo | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 189,247 | 276,854 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $48,076 | $50,041 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,457 | $31,843 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,056/sq mi | 6,856/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $122,000 | $164,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $955 | $1,046 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 50.7% | 43.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 31.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.3% | 26.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 85°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.5" | 40.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 21.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.9 | 34.3 | 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.
Buffalo
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: Akron, OH · Buffalo, NY · How this is calculated: methodology