Are you considering moving to Akron? There are plenty of amazing suburbs of Akron Ohio, and cities near Akron Ohio to consider. Akron is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau in Northeast Ohio, about 40 miles south of downtown Cleveland. Though there are many cities in Ohio, Akron is one of the most popular.
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What Is the Akron Population?
The Akron Ohio population is 190,469. Akron is the county seat of Summit County and is the fifth-most populous city in Ohio. The Akron metropolitan area covers Summit and Portage counties and has a population of 702,219.
What Is the Akron Metro Like?
Akron is nicknamed the “Rubber Capital of the World” because of the four major tire companies, B.F. Goodrich (1869), Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (1898), Firestone Tire and Rubber Company (1900), and General Tire & Rubber Company (1915) were founded there. Goodyear is still headquartered in the city. Akron’s major industries include manufacturing, education, healthcare, and biomedical research.
Some of the top companies in Akron are Gojo Industries, FirstEnergy, Babcock & Wilcox, Myers Industries, Acme Fresh Market, and Huntington Bank.
Akron is home to Akron Public Schools, one of Ohio’s eight largest urban school districts. Top private schools include Archbishop Hoban High School and St Vincent-St Mary High School. The University of Akron enrolls approximately 15,000 students and is part of the University System of Ohio. Stark State College Akron is also located in the city.
Akron Sports & Entertainment
Akron has several professional sports teams, including the Akron RubberDucks, a minor league baseball team, and Akron City FC, a soccer team in the National Premier Soccer League.
Akron has three performance halls, including E. J. Thomas Hall, which features the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Tuesday Musical Club, and Children’s Concert Society. The hall also showcases world-class events, such as Broadway musicals, ballets, comedies, lectures, and entertainers.
The Akron Art Museum, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Sand Run Metro Park, the American Marble and Toy Museum, and the Akron Police Museum are some of the major attractions in Akron. The Akron Zoo spans 77 acres and is home to over 1,000 animals representing over 100 different species.
Akron hosts several prominent events annually, including professional golf’s Bridgestone Invitational, the All-American Soap Box Derby, the National Hamburger Festival, and the First Night Akron celebration on New Year’s Eve.
Akron Ohio Airport
Akron-Canton Airport is located about 15 miles south of downtown Akron and serves many Ohio cities.
Akron Ohio Parks
Akron has a number of parks for residents to enjoy. Some of the most popular parks are Lock 3, Firestone, Goodyear Heights, the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Lock 3 Park is frequently used as an outdoor amphitheater, hosting concerts, festivals, and special events throughout the year. Lock 3 Park transforms into an outdoor ice-skating rink in winter.
Akron Skatepark, a 19,000-square-foot outdoor skatepark, features concrete ramps, two bowls, a snake run, two hips, a stair set with handrail, many smaller quarter pipes, and a variety of grind boxes. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs along the Erie Canal and is popular for biking and hiking.
Notable People from Akron’s History
Notable people from Akron include Watergate figure John Dean, National Basketball Association Champions and MVPs LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Major League Baseball player Thurman Munson, and Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of The Pretenders. Ferdinand Schumacher created the first American oatmeal in Akron and is a pioneer of breakfast cereal. He founded the company that would become the Quaker Oats Company.
Largest Cities Near Akron Ohio
There are five cities within 12 miles of Akron, OH that have a population of 25,000 people or more. Each city offers outdoor activities, recreation, and interesting things to see and do. Here are the largest cities near Akron Ohio, listed from largest to smallest.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH – 5 miles from Akron
- Population – 51,114
- County – Summit
As one of the largest cities near Akron Ohio, this is a popular choice for new move ins. Cuyahoga Falls was founded in 1812 and takes its name from the Cuyahoga River, which means “crooked river” in the language of the Mohawk Tribe. The main industry in the city is manufacturing, and Cuyahoga Falls has a thriving job market.
The city is known for its outdoor spaces, parks, golfing, water parks, and lakes, as well as the nearby waterfalls at Gorge Metro Park and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cuyahoga is a family-friendly town with good schools and a very low cost of living, making it very affordable. Downtown Cuyahoga Falls offers lots of shopping and dining experiences, as well as festivals and other social events throughout the year. Find out more about living in Cuyahoga Falls in our guide.
Stow, OH – 8 miles From Akron
- Population – 34,483
- County – Summit
Stow is a family-friendly community with diverse neighborhoods, excellent public schools, beautiful parks and trails, and offers residents a high quality of life. The vibrant mix of local businesses is Stow providing many opportunities for shopping, dining, and activities.
Stow hosts a number of events throughout the year for residents and visitors alike, such as the Fourth of July Parade, Summer Sunset Blast, Community Easter Egg Hunt, Haunted Hayride, and the Glow with Stow Holiday Lighting Festival. The Stow Parks and Recreation Department provides a wide range of programs for all age groups. We’ve got your full guide to moving to Stow, OH for tips and tricks to the town!
Kent, OH – 12 miles From Akron
- Population – 28,215
- County – Portage
Kent is the largest city in Portage County, located along the Cuyahoga River. The city was settled in 1805 and was first called Franklin Mills. Kent is most famous for Kent State University, where four students were killed by the National Guard on May 4, 1970. Kent has nearly 20 parks and preserves for outdoor enthusiasts.
The city hosts several annual festivals and events, including “Who’s Your Mama?” on Earth Day, an ice cream social event in August, an outdoor concert series and “sidewalk cinema” between May and September, an art and wine festival in June, a cider festival in November, and the Festival of Lights Christmas celebration in early December. The Wizardly World of Kent is a festival celebrating the book and movie series Harry Potter. Kent is home to the Davey Tree Expert Company and is known as “The Tree City”.
Green, OH – 12 miles From Akron
- Population – 27,475
- County – Summit
Green was founded in 1809 as a farming town. The town became the Village of Green in 1991 and was incorporated as a city in 1992. Green has a diverse housing market, a small-town, rural feel, and great schools. The City of Green Parks provides a wide variety of activities, including world-class soccer and lacrosse fields at Springhill Sports Complex. Ariss Park, Boettler Park, and East Liberty Park offer opportunities for hiking, cross country skiing, baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, fishing, picnicking, and biking. Though it feels like a smaller town, it’s still one of the bigger cities near Akron Ohio. Check out more about living in Green Ohio in our blog.
Barberton, OH – 8 miles From Akron
- Population – 25,191
- County – Summit
Barberton was founded in 1891 by the owner of the Diamond Match Company and became known as the “Magic City” because of its rapid population growth during its formative industrial years. Barberton provides a good job market, as well as great education and healthcare.
Lake Anna Park is a popular park in the heart of the city that provides recreational activities and festivals throughout the year. Between ice skating there in the winter and jogging in the summer, residents always have something to do in the park. The Magical Theatre Company offers live performances.
The 3,500-arce Anna–Dean Farm features a 52-room, French Renaissance Revival-style mansion built in 1909 that is surrounded by lush gardens, dozens of barns, and other structures. Of all the cities near Akron Ohio, this is one of the fastest growing.
Other Cities near Akron Ohio
There are three cities within a 20-mile radius of Akron with a population over 18,000:
Hudson, OH – 14 miles From Akron
- Population – 23,110
- County – Summit
Hudson was incorporated in 1837 and was the home of Western Reserve College and Preparatory School, founded in 1826 and known as the “Yale of the West”. The Loomis Observatory in Hudson was built in 1838 and is the oldest observatory in the U.S., still in its original location.
Hudson’s historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2002, Hudson was the first community in the U.S. to launch a citywide electronic gift card. Hudson Springs Park, with a 50-acre lake, is a popular local destination. We’ve got all the info you need in our guide to living in Hudson, OH.
Twinsburg, OH – 20 miles From Akron
- Population – 19,248
- County – Summit
Twinsburg is named for identical twins Moses and Aaron Wilco, who sold discounted parcels of land in the early 1800s. Twinsburg holds a yearly festival for twins called the Twins Days Festival. The festival started in 1976 and has become the world’s largest annual gathering of twins, with around 3,000 sets attending annually. The festival attracts twins, multiples, and their families from all over the world.
Twinsburg has excellent schools and beautiful parks. Liberty Park provides sports fields, walking trails, a playground, and many opportunities to see local wildlife. During the summer months, Twinsburg Water Park, with a large water slide, is a very popular destination. Check out our blog for tips on living in Twinsburg, OH.
Tallmadge, OH – 5 miles From Akron
- Population – 18,394
- County – Summit, Portage
This city near Akron Ohio is known for Tallmadge Circle in the center of town that surrounds the Historic Tallmadge Church, Old Town Hall, and Circle Park. The city was founded in 1807. It was illegal to buy or consume alcohol within the city until the 1990s. The Historic Tallmadge Church was built in 1825 and is recognized as a historic place by the Ohio Historical Society. This is truly one of the friendliest towns near Akron Ohio!
Tallmadge Little League Baseball teams represented the city in the 1974 and 2003 Little League World Series. The 1974 team finished in fourth place. The Tallmadge High School Blue Devils have won 8 softball and two baseball state championships. If sports are popular in your house, there are many cities near Akron Ohio to choose from, but this might be your favorite. Find out more about living in Tallmadge, OH in our blog.
Map of Cities Near Akron Ohio, and Surrounding Area
Wondering, “How far is Akron Ohio from me?” Check out this map of Akron and the cities nearby.
Small Cities & Towns Near Akron Ohio
There are six cities and villages with populations of 4,000 or fewer people within a 20-mile radius of Akron. Here are the small towns near Akron Ohio.
Cities Near Akron (4,000 or fewer population)
| County | Population (2020) | Distance from Akron | |
| Mogadore | Summit/Portage | 3,811 | 8 miles |
| Richfield | Summit | 3,729 | 19 miles |
| Lakemore | Summit | 2,926 | 9 miles |
| Silver Lake | Summit | 2,516 | 7 miles |
| Boston Heights | Summit | 1,402 | 15 miles |
| Clinton | Summit | 1,197 | 15 miles |
Major Cities Near Akron Ohio
Akron is located in Northeast Ohio and offers many opportunities for day trips to the neighboring counties of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Stark, Wayne, Trumbull, Mahoning, and Medina. Akron is also only several hours or less from a weekend getaway to Cleveland, Canton, Columbus, or Toledo. There are many major cities near Akron Ohio. So, what big cities near Akron Ohio exist, and how far are they?
Distance to Major Cities from Akron, OH:
- 30 miles: Cleveland, OH
- 91 miles: Pittsburgh, PA
- 109 miles: Columbus, OH
- 112 miles: Toledo, OH
- 116 miles: Windsor, Canada
- 117 miles: Detroit, MI
- 167 miles: Dayton, OH
- 186 miles: Buffalo, NY
- 207 miles: Cincinnati, OH
- 210 miles: Toronto, Canada
- 258 miles: Indianapolis, IN
- 278 miles: Washington, DC
- 284 miles: Baltimore, MD
- 323 miles: Chicago, IL
- 340 miles: Philadelphia, PA
- 359 miles: Milwaukee, WI
- 396 miles: Raleigh, NC
- 406 miles: Charlotte, NC
- 427 miles: Ottawa, Canada
- 437 miles: Nashville, TN
Akron, OH Area Cities FAQs
What City Is Akron Close to?
The closest city to Akron, OH is Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 5 miles away.
Is Columbus Ohio Close to Akron?
Yes, Columbus is 109 miles from Akron.
Is Dayton, Ohio Close to Akron?
Yes, Dayton is 167 miles from Akron.
Is it Expensive to Live in Akron?
No, the cost of living in Akron is 3% below the national average.
What Big cities Near Akron, Ohio are there?
Cleveland is the closest major city to Akron, about 30 miles away. Pittsburg, PA is 91 miles away.
What Cities (Or Towns) Are About 1 Hour From Akron, Oh?
Cities near Akron Ohio, within an hour, include Boardman, OH, Wellington, OH, Struthers, OH, Elyria, OH, Painesville, OH, Columbiana, OH, and Amherst, OH.
What Cities (Or Towns) Are 25-30 Minutes From Akron, Oh?
Some of the cities near Akron Ohio, within a 30-minute radius, include Hartville, OH, Streetsboro, OH, Bedford Heights, OH, Ravenna, OH, Canton, OH, Brecksville, OH, Westfield Center, OH, Brady Lake, OH, North Canton, OH, and Kent, OH.
Moving Near Akron? Contact Summit Moving Today
Which of these cities near Akron Ohio is right for you? Whether you’re moving to one of the major cities near Akron Ohio, or to a nearby Akron suburb, there is so much to love about living in Akron Ohio.
When it comes to relocating, you need the best Akron movers to help you get there, and that’s who we aim to be at Summit Moving! We can help with apartment moving, intrastate moving, long distance moving, and so much more. Give us a call today at 330-633-3633, or fill out our form for a free quote!
