Rochester and Akron receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Rochester
Akron
Opportunity
58 · Top 44%
vs68 · Top 25%
Growth
35 · Bottom 27%
vs24 · Bottom 13%
Climate
62 · Bottom 37%
vs64 · Bottom 43%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 2%
vs91 · Top 4%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
98 · Top 7%
vs95 · Top 14%
Economic stability
66 · Top 32%
vs72 · Top 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Rochester | Akron | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,058,413 | 699,820 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,284 | $72,371 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,131 | $42,464 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 362/sq mi | 777/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $204,600 | $213,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,143 | $1,033 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.3% | 68.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 35.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,774 | 678 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.7 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.9% | -40.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.1" | 32.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 25.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 41.0 | 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
Rochester
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Akron
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Full profiles: Rochester, NY Metro Area · Akron, OH Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology