Performance
Score Breakdown
Burnaby
Akron
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Burnaby is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
11% lower compared to Akron.
Housing costs are a major driver: Burnaby's average rent is
105% higher than Akron's.
| Metric | Burnaby | Akron | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,300 | $1,123 | +105% |
| Groceries | $0 | $742 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $234 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $357 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $130 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,300 | $2,586 | -11% |
| Cost Index | 69 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Akron offers 100% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Burnaby is estimated at
$77,712 vs $66,000 in Akron.
| Metric | Burnaby | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $73,000 |
| Salary Needed | $77,712 | $66,000 |
| Household Income | $83,000 | $48,076 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Burnaby | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 75.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
For walkability, Akron leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Burnaby | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 48.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 23.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Burnaby is the larger city
— approximately 1.3x the population of Akron.
From a growth perspective, Burnaby is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Akron has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Burnaby | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 249,125 | 189,664 |
| Pop. Growth | 7.00% | % |
| Median Age | 42.0 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 6.91% | 3.80% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Burnaby
Advantages
Burnaby's crime rates are 28% lower than the British Columbia average.
The city has an exceptional Livability Score of 84/100.
Burnaby has one of the highest ratios of park land to residents in North America, with 25% of its land designated as parks and open spaces.
The city is a major employment center within the Lower Mainland, with significant job growth in professional, scientific, and technical services.
Burnaby offers convenient public transit with 11 SkyTrain stations and an extensive bus system.
Drawbacks
Burnaby has some of the highest rents in Canada, second only to Vancouver.
Despite a decline in 2024, rents are still 16.8% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The competitive housing market and high cost of living can be challenging for residents.
The average days on market for detached homes in Burnaby jumped to 51 days in December 2024, up from 19 in November.
While the infrastructure is dependable, the pace of life is more functional than cosmopolitan.
Akron
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Akron is 15% lower than the national average, making it a highly affordable city.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, with average monthly rent at $1,123 and median home prices around $153,000.
Akron has a diverse economy with strong industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and the polymer sector.
The city offers a public transportation system (METRO RTA) with affordable monthly passes at $50.
Healthcare costs in Akron are approximately 14% lower than the national average.
Drawbacks
Akron has a high crime rate, with an overall crime rate 50% above the national average and a safety grade of C-.
The city is experiencing a projected population decline of -0.9% annually.
Akron has a negative job growth rate, with a 0.461% decline in employed population in 2024.
The lifestyle in Akron is largely car-dependent, with most errands requiring a vehicle and an average Walk Score of 48.
The median household income of $48,076 in 2024 is below the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Burnaby
#1British Columbia, Canada
84.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,300
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
69
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
7.00%
Unemployment
6.91%
Livability
84
Business
0
Akron
#98Ohio, USA
60.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,123
Avg Salary
$73,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
65
Business
55
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