The Akron metro is home to 699,508 people (down 0.7% over five years), with a median household income of $71,312. Typical rent of $1,306/month works out to 22.0% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Akron's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.0% |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% |
| Retail trade | 11.6% |
| Professional & management | 10.4% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.1% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.0% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Akron market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,306/month suggests a household income around $52,000/year. The metro's median household income is $71,312.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.0%), Manufacturing (14.7%), Retail trade (11.6%) (Census ACS 5-year).