Side-by-side comparison of Dayton, OH and Akron, OH — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Akron has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.64% compared to Dayton's 1.88%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $250,000 in Dayton vs $230,000 in Akron, while rents come in at $960/mo and $1,240/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.
Growth & appreciation: Dayton is growing faster at -0.1% annually, while Akron is losing population. Dayton leads on home value appreciation at 2% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.6% in Dayton vs 1.58% in Akron. Vacancy rates of 7.2% and 7% are mixed — Akron has the tighter rental market.
Entry point: Akron offers a lower entry at $230K vs Dayton's $250K — a difference of $20K. With a 20% down payment, that's $46K vs $50K. Akron combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.
Bottom line: Akron edges out Dayton on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.64%, Akron's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Dayton or Akron.