Akron and Cleveland are two of the most talked-about cities in northeast Ohio—and they're close enough (about 40 miles, 40–45 minutes on I-77) that choosing one over the other isn't as final as it sounds.
Many people commute between them daily. Others choose one as their base and treat the other as a short trip. Both cities offer real quality of life at rents that would make renters in Chicago, Columbus, or New York envious.
If you're deciding where to plant your roots, here's an honest comparison.
Rent in Akron if: Cost is your primary driver, you work in or near Akron, or you want a smaller city with genuine arts and culture.
Rent in Cleveland if: You want more career options, stronger metro infrastructure, neighborhood variety, and the energy of a larger city.
Live in between if: You want to commute to one or both, prioritize suburb/rural amenities, or work remotely.
Akron is consistently cheaper than Cleveland—often by 15–25%—for comparable properties.
| Type | Akron | Cleveland Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $600–$850 | $750–$1,100 |
| 1 Bedroom | $700–$950 | $850–$1,300 |
| Type | Akron | Cleveland Metro |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Bedroom | $800–$1,050 | $950–$1,400 |
| 3 Bedroom | $900–$1,200 | $1,050–$1,600 |
The math: For a family renting a 3-bedroom home, Akron might save you $150–$300/month—that's $1,800–$3,600 per year in your pocket.
The tradeoff is that Cleveland's job market is significantly larger, which often means more earning potential that offsets the higher rent.
Cleveland is the larger economic engine. Major employers include:
Healthcare: Cleveland Clinic (one of the world's top hospitals), University Hospitals, MetroHealth, and dozens of associated practices and research institutions. Healthcare is the dominant industry.
Finance and insurance: KeyBank, Progressive Insurance, FirstEnergy, Sherwin-Williams—several Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in or near Cleveland.
Legal, professional services, and consulting: A larger professional services sector compared to Akron.
Manufacturing and logistics: Northeast Ohio's industrial heritage persists, with substantial manufacturing employment across the metro area.
Education: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State, Tri-C, and others.
Akron punches above its weight for a city of 190,000.
Rubber and polymers: Akron remains the global capital of polymer research and manufacturing. Goodyear is headquartered here. Related materials science and engineering jobs are strong.
Healthcare: Akron Children's Hospital, Summa Health, and Cleveland Clinic's regional presence employ thousands.
Education: University of Akron, Kent State (nearby), and Walsh University contribute to the local economy.
Tech and startups: Akron has made genuine investments in a startup ecosystem, though it's smaller than Cleveland's.
Bottom line on jobs: Cleveland has more options across more industries. If you're early in your career, in healthcare, finance, or law, or working in a large company environment, Cleveland has more opportunity. If you're in polymer science, materials engineering, or don't need to maximize career options, Akron is excellent.
Cleveland's strength is variety. From the walkable, foodie-forward Ohio City and Tremont to the school-district-focused Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights, to the working-class value of Garfield Heights and Parma—there's a neighborhood for almost every lifestyle preference and budget.
Notable Cleveland neighborhoods:
Akron has its own distinct neighborhoods:
Bottom line on neighborhoods: Cleveland has more variety and more depth. But Akron's Highland Square is genuinely excellent and underrated. If Highland Square's character appeals to you, Akron offers it at a lower price than comparable Cleveland neighborhoods.
Cleveland has more of everything that comes with a larger city:
Bottom line on lifestyle: Cleveland offers more volume. Akron offers a more human-scale city with remarkable outdoor access.
This is important: living in one city and working in the other is realistic.
Akron to Cleveland: I-77 north, about 40 miles. In average traffic: 40–50 minutes. Rush hour: 55–70 minutes.
Cleveland to Akron: Same route south.
The commute is real but manageable. Many people do it. If you can find work in Akron and live comfortably on Akron rents while being close to Cleveland's amenities on weekends, that's a compelling lifestyle.
Hybrid remote work makes this even more practical. If you only commute to Cleveland two or three days a week, Akron becomes a serious option.
Choose Cleveland if:
Choose Akron if:
Consider the middle corridor if:
We're based in the Greater Cleveland area and know the market well. Our properties are primarily in Cleveland and surrounding suburbs—Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Akron.
Check what we have available at /rentals, or call us at (216) 480-4166. If you're not sure which area makes the most sense for your situation, we're happy to talk it through.
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