City comparison
Akron, OH vs Canton, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 4.4% higher than in Canton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Canton, OH would need about $104,400 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $985 a month in Akron, OH versus $846 in Canton, OH. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Akron, OH and 13% in Canton, OH.
- Both are in OH, so estimated state income tax is the same: $1,968 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $111,138 in either. A transfer from Akron, OH to Canton, OH changes real buying power by +4.4%, purely from prices.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Canton, OH: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Canton, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 89.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,755 in Canton | $104,434 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $846/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $45,810 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Canton-Massillon, OH MSA. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Canton-Massillon, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Canton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 58.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 96.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 89.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Canton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.4%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
83 Strong offer
Canton, OH → Akron, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
55 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Both metros are in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Canton, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Canton, OH | Real change, Akron → Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $64,448 | +4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $77,977 | +4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $93,461 | +4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $111,138 | +4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $131,331 | +4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Canton, OH | Canton pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $104,530 | $98,900 | $103,285 (−1.2%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $105,500 | $110,178 (+4.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $72,170 | $75,370 (−4.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $79,610 | $83,140 (+2.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.