City profile · Ohio · Census ACS 2023

Akron, OH

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Akron - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

189,526
Residents
$48,544
Median income
$111,200
Median home
$1,268
Median rent (state)

Akron - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Akron lands in the 17th percentile for household income and the 9th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

17th
percentile, household income
14th
percentile, home value
42nd
percentile, median rent
9th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Akron, OH

189,526 people live in Akron, Ohio - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $48,544 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 17.6%. Akron's housing stock carries a median value of $111,200, and the median resident age is 37.2 years. 23.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Akron's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3775.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Ohio run below the national norm: the state registers 92.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,268 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Ohio's average monthly utility costs around $228 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 91.2 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

189,526 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Ohio

Median Household Income

$48,544 /yr

Poverty 17.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.8 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Ohio average

How does Akron compare to other US cities?

Here's how Akron stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 14% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% pricier than other cities
Safety 9% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Ohio, Akron ranks #261 of 281 Ohio cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Akron's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Ohio, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

17thIncome percentile
9thSafety percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income · 9th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Akron's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Akron's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 33 Avg. percentile National median
Akron's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Akron's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$111,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Akron $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Akron, OH Akron, OH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Akron, OH-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Akron, OH median $48,544/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Akron, OH's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Akron, OH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
189,526
Median Income
$48,544
Median Home Value
$111,200
Median Age
37.2
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Labor force participation
58.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3775.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
820.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2955.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
76
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
188,500 residents189,000 residents189,500 residents190,000 residents190,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 190,184 residents 189,691 residents ▼ -0.3%
Akron's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.3%
Carpool
10.9%
Public Transit
2.2%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
9.6%
Other
1.3%

Based on 87,247 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Ohio - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$78
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$228
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Ohio state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Ohio state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Akron sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.8
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,268/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Ohio

Dayton
136,741 people
Toledo
268,461 people
Parma
80,131 people
Canton
70,105 people
Cincinnati
309,595 people
Lorain
65,207 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Akron's 189,526 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Providence, RI
190,214 people
Brownsville, TX
188,023 people
Glendale, CA
192,270 people
Tempe, AZ
186,419 people
Vancouver, WA
192,696 people
Paradise, NV
186,178 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Akron's $48,544 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wilhoit, AZ
$48,542 median income
Ila, GA
$48,542 median income
Farmersburg, IA
$48,542 median income
Warba, MN
$48,542 median income
Bliss, NY
$48,542 median income
Taylorsville, NC
$48,542 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Akron, OH Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Akron, OH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 56.1% 29.4% 8.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.1% White 56.1% Black or African American 29.4% Asian 4.6% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 8.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Akron compares to nearby Ohio cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Akron (this city) 189,526 $48,544
Dayton 136,741 $43,454
Toledo 268,461 $47,532
Parma 80,131 $67,425
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OH FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Akron, OH?

What is the population of Akron, OH? +

Akron, OH counts 189,526 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Akron, OH? +

The median household income in Akron is $48,544 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Akron? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Akron; the closest available measure is the Ohio state average, a cost of living index of 92.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Ohio vary by metro area.

Is Akron, OH safe? +

Akron has a total crime rate of 3775.3 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Akron, OH? +

Akron's median home value sits at $111,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.