City Comparison
Irvine vs Akron
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Irvine scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Irvine
Akron
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Akron is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
36% lower than in Irvine.
Housing costs are a major driver: Irvine's average rent is
173% higher than Akron's.
| Metric | Irvine | Akron | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,066 | $1,123 | +173% |
| Groceries | $450 | $742 | -39% |
| Utilities | $180 | $234 | -23% |
| Transport | $120 | $357 | -66% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $130 | +92% |
| Monthly Total | $4,066 | $2,586 | +57% |
| Cost Index | 168 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Irvine offers 12% higher 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 Irvine is estimated at
$95,000 vs $66,000 in Akron.
| Metric | Irvine | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $82,000 | $73,000 |
| Salary Needed | $95,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 48,810 idx | 85,882 idx |
| Household Income | $136,719 | $48,076 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Irvine runs warmer on average — a 64.1°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Irvine comes out ahead with 324 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Irvine sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Irvine | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 64.10°F | °F |
| Summer High | 79.70°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 49.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 19.70 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 324 | |
| Humidity | 60.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Akron has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Irvine.
Irvine scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Irvine leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Irvine | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 25 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 50.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Irvine is the larger city
— approximately 1.7x the population of Akron.
From a growth perspective, Irvine is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Akron has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Irvine | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 318,693 | 189,664 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | — |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Irvine
Advantages
Consistently ranked as one of the safest big cities in America for consecutive years per FBI statistics and local safety reports.
Irvine Unified School District achieves exceptional performance metrics, with high school graduation rates exceeding 97%.
Home to more than 19,000 thriving businesses providing robust local employment and career mobility.
Extensive outdoor recreational infrastructure featuring over 16,000 acres of preserved open space and extensive bicycle trails.
High concentration of residents with higher education degrees, fostering a progressive, intellectually vibrant community.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living sits roughly 68% higher than the national average, heavily driven by housing expenses.
Median home purchase prices scale past $1.4 million, presenting a steep barrier to entry for prospective first-time buyers.
High reliance on automobile travel for daily errands despite solid local bicycle infrastructure.
Strict homeowner association (HOA) regulations and municipal codes govern property aesthetics and modifications.
Rental prices remain among the highest in Southern California, placing considerable pressure on non-homeowners.
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.
Irvine
#275California, USA
61.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,066
Avg Salary
$82,000
Cost Index
168
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
324/yr
Avg Temp
64.10°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
88
Business
82
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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