Akron, Ohio Population 2023

187,724

Akron is a city located in Summit County Ohio. It is also the county seat of Summit County. With a 2023 population of 187,724, it is the 5th largest city in Ohio and the 137th largest city in the United States.Akron is currently declining at a rate of -0.43% annually and its population has decreased by -1.28% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 190,164 in 2020. Spanning over 62 miles, Akron has a population density of 3,031 people per square mile.

The average household income in Akron is $55,286 with a poverty rate of 27.16%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Akron is 36.5 years, 34.9 years for males, and 38.1 years for females.

Akron has been home to many international corporations and has earned several nicknames, including “Rubber Capital of the World.”

Akron Population Growth

Akron was once the fastest-growing city in the United States. However, the decline of the tire and rubber industries did have an effect on the city’s population. Akron’s population peaked in 1960, with over 290,000 inhabitants. However, this number has continued to decline every decade, falling below 200,000 at the time of the 2010 census. The current estimated population shows that the population has dropped just 0.7% since the last census, which has slowed down significantly from previous years. Because of Akron’s continued role as a city of innovation and invention, future growth is possible to push the city above 200,000 residents once again.

The history of Akron goes back many years, but the city itself came to be in 1825. Settler Paul Williams came to the area in 1811 and suggested founding a town along the Ohio and Erie Canal. Plans for the city were laid out in 1825. At the time, the city was named South Akron because a North Akron already existed. However, the settlements merged and were incorporated as a village in 1836.

In 1841, Akron was designated as the county seat of Summit County, replacing Cuyahoga Falls. The canal was opened shortly after, which led to the sewer pipe, fishing tackle, farming equipment and stoneware industries. Akron began to grow, both in terms of the city boundaries and the population. One of the most notable things about the city’s early history was that the law began here which launched the K-12 public school system that is still in use today. The public school system was created in 1847, and Akron Public Schools opened the same year. Years later, in 1870, Buchtel College was founded. This later became the University of Akron.

In 1865, Akron was incorporated as a city. Around this time, many churches were being built and the city continued to expand. The Akron Toy Company was founded here and was the site of many inventions, including dolls, balls and clay marbles. By the end of the 19th century, the Bedford and Cleveland Railroad was up and running.

In the 20th century, Akron earned the name “Rubber Capital of the World”it was the site of four tire companies: Firestone, General Time, Goodyear and Goodrich. These major tire companies provided many jobs to Akronites and were even named “Crossroads of the Deaf” because of the number of deaf employees that worked within these factories. To keep up with the population, rubber companies built affordable housing for their employees.

From 1910 to 1920, Akron was the fastest-growing city in the United States. A large number of immigrants from all over the world chose to live in this city. During this time, the tire companies continued to prosper, with Goodyear’s subsidiary even manufacturing airships and blimps for the military. The annexation of neighboring Kenmore resulted in additional growth.

Growth continued through the 1950s and 1960s as more people were purchasing cars. However, just like many other industries, tires and rubber went into decline and only one manufacturer was left in Akron by the 1990s. In the early 2000s, the number of rubber workers was cut in half.

However, despite rubber’s decline, Akron found another opportunity with polymers. Akron is home to nearly 100 polymer factories and research centers are located throughout the city. In the early 2000s, the city was named as one of America’s top tech havens and was also nicknamed “City of Invention.” The city has won multiple awards for innovation and it is home to many large companies including GOJO, Myers Industries and Sterling Jewelers. The city has many renowned colleges and universities, research centers and attractions, including the Akron Riverwalk which is currently back in development following the financial crisis that ended in 2010.

Akron Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Akron was:

  • White: 59.08%
  • Black or African American: 29.86%
  • Two or more races: 5.34%
  • Asian: 4.67%
  • Other race: 0.83%
  • Native American: 0.22%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.01%
The current population of Akron, Ohio is 187,724 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 190,164.

Akron, Ohio Population 2023

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Akron Metro Area Population by Year

Population by Race

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White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Asian

Other race

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Akron Population by Race

Akron Population Pyramid 2023

Akron Median Age

36.5

Total

34.9

Male

38.1

Female

Akron Adults

There are 155,468 adults, (29,835 of whom are seniors) in Akron.

Akron Age Dependency

57.1

Age Dependency Ratio

23.7

Old Age Dependency Ratio

33.4

Child Dependency Ratio

Akron Sex Ratio

Female103,45352.41%
Male93,92247.59%

Akron Population by Age

Akron Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3.02

Average Family Size

2.25

Average Household Size

50.4%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Akron Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Akron Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Akron Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 22.2%.

Akron Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$32,107

Average Earnings

$35,912

Average Male

$28,102

Average Female

Akron Earnings by Educational Attainment

Akron Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Akron Language

91.58% of Akron residents speak only English, while 8.42% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 3.99% of the population.

Akron Language

Akron Poverty by Race

rate

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27.16%

Overall Poverty Rate

20.74%

Male Poverty Rate

24.99%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Akron

The race most likely to be in poverty in Akron is Multiple, with 53.36% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Akron is Islander, with 16.67% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.78%. Among those working part-time, it was 27%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 31.28%.

Akron Poverty

rate

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Akron Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Akron Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Akron Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Akron Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

33.6%

Overall Marriage Rate

35.1%

Male Marriage Rate

32.3%

Female Marriage Rate

Akron Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Akron Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.

Akron Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Akron Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

10,834

Number of Veterans

9,644

Male Veterans

1,190

Female Veterans

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Akron Veterans by War

count

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Akron Veterans by Age

count

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Akron Veterans by Race

Akron Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

11.67%

Veteran Poverty Rate

30.6%

Veteran Disability Rate

Akron Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

63.5%

Labor Force Participation

57.8%

Employment Rate

8.8%

Unemployment Rate

Akron Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Akron Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Akron Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

78.68%

Born in Akron

96.68%

Native Born

7.11%

Foreign Born

4.31%

Non Citizen

2.79%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

96.68% of Akron residents were born in the United States, with 78.68% having been born in Ohio. 4.31% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Akron Place of Birth

Note: data after 2021 is projected based on recent change
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Akron Population by Year