Franklin County vs Summit County
Franklin County, Ohio versus Summit County, Ohio: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Summit County edges out Franklin County on overall objective livability (46 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Franklin County | Summit County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $71k | $68k |
| Cost of Living | $48k | $43k |
| Home Value | $243k | $183k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $956 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.64% | 1.60% |
| Income Tax | 5.65% | 5.22% |
| Sales Tax | 7.24% | 7.24% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.64% | 11.89% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 5.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 29°F | 28°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0 in | 39.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.6 in | 46.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 168 days | 175 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 95 days | 95 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 98.1 | 91.2 |
| Air Quality | 54 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 65.4 | 62.2 |
| Violent Crime | 1912/100k | 1820/100k |
| Property Crime | 3001/100k | 2238/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 1,318,149 | 539,361 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 41.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.55 | 0.40 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | D+32 | Even |
| White (%) | 60.5% | 74.9% |
| Black (%) | 22.8% | 13.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.0% | 2.4% |
| Asian (%) | 5.4% | 3.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 4.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 22 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 11.0/20 | 7.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 7 mi | 25 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 92.1% | 89.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 8.07 | 8.70 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Franklin County or Summit County more affordable?
- Summit County has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Franklin County's $48k and Summit County's $43k. Median rent is $1k in Franklin County versus $956 in Summit County.
- Is Franklin County or Summit County safer?
- Summit County has the lower violent crime rate. Franklin County reports 1912/100k and Summit County reports 1820/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Franklin County or Summit County?
- The median home value is $243k in Franklin County and $183k in Summit County, so homes are more affordable in Summit County.