01 · the cities
Akron
Akron was the Rubber City (Goodyear, Firestone, BFGoodrich all built here), and the legacy still shapes its industrial bones. LeBron James is from Akron and never forgets it. The Goodyear blimp is based in town. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is just north, with waterfalls and rail-trails. Cheaper than Cleveland, with its own quiet charm.
full dispatch→Lansing
Lansing is the Michigan state capital, Michigan State (East Lansing is essentially a continuation), and old auto industry roots that have softened into a quieter mid-sized city. The Grand River curves through downtown. The Capitol building is one of the prettier state capitols you'll see. Cheap, friendly, and a quick drive to Lake Michigan beaches.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,259/mo
$1,259/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$236k
$244k
$7k more than Akron
State income tax
State income tax
4.0%
4.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,742/mo
$6,720/mo
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
152 days
153 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
40 days
52 days
days below 20°F per year
Lansing drops below 20°F on 12 more days per year than Akron.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
65 / 100
57 / 100
8.0 pts behind Akron
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
11 routes
6 routes
5 fewer direct routes than Akron
Metro size
Metro size
698k metro
473k metro
Akron has 1.8x more events per month than Lansing.
the verdict
6
Akron
categories won
0
Lansing
categories won
Akron wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
run your numbers
How far does your Akron salary go?
Enter your salary to see a full ranked list of cities where you would live better.
see your top citiesWe use a proprietary blend of data from the US Census, Zillow, Ticketmaster, and more.
Walk Score® is a trademark of Walk Score, a Redfin company. How Walk Score works