Akron OH vs Manchester NH — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Akron, OH

Ohio · Population: 189,526

  • Median HH Income$48,544
  • Median Home Price$140,512
  • Unemployment8.0%
  • Bachelor's+23.3%

Manchester, NH

New Hampshire · Population: 115,415

  • Median HH Income$77,415
  • Median Home Price$441,257
  • Unemployment3.8%
  • Bachelor's+33.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Akron
189,526
Akron +
Manchester
115,415
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Akron
N/A
Manchester
N/A
Median Age
Akron
37.2
Akron +
Manchester
37.9
Foreign Born
Akron
6.4%
Manchester
14.8%
Manchester +
White
Akron
56.1%
Manchester
76.7%
Manchester +
Black
Akron
29.4%
Akron +
Manchester
5.3%
Asian
Akron
4.6%
Akron +
Manchester
4.6%
Hispanic
Akron
4.1%
Manchester
13.5%
Manchester +
Spanish at Home
Akron
N/A
Manchester
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Akron
$48,544
Manchester
$77,415
Manchester +
Per Capita Income
Akron
$29,763
Manchester
$44,220
Manchester +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Akron
$58,300
Manchester
$75,331
Manchester +
Unemployment Rate
Akron
8.0%
Manchester
3.8%
Manchester +
Poverty Rate
Akron
22.9%
Manchester
10.7%
Manchester +
Bachelor's Degree+
Akron
23.3%
Manchester
33.5%
Manchester +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Akron
$140,512
Akron +
Manchester
$441,257
Homeownership Rate
Akron
50.8%
Akron +
Manchester
49.3%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Akron
319
Manchester
134
Manchester +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Akron
1866
Manchester
1048
Manchester +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Akron
42.7%
Manchester
35.0%
Manchester +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Akron
16.5%
Manchester
9.4%
Manchester +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Akron
20.6%
Manchester
17.4%
Manchester +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Akron
10.4%
Manchester
9.9%
Manchester +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Akron
14.1%
Akron +
Manchester
16.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Akron
19.6%
Manchester
12.9%
Manchester +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Akron
50.2°F
Manchester
49.2°F
Manchester +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Akron
37.1 in
Akron +
Manchester
44.6 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Akron
10.3 µg/m³
Manchester
5.9 µg/m³
Manchester +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Akron
55.0%
Manchester
75.0%
Manchester +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Akron
23.8 min
Akron +
Manchester
25.7 min

Which City is Right for You?

Manchester leads in median household income at $77,415, while akron offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $140,512. On public safety, Manchester is safer with a violent crime rate of 134 per 100,000 residents, compared to 319 in Akron. Manchester has a lower unemployment rate at 3.8%, and Manchester has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Manchester scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Akron & Manchester