We're crunching numbers today.
This summer, the Beacon Journal's electronic inboxes were flooded with surveys on a wide range of topics. Some clogged our spam filters. Most got deleted. A few made us pause.
We can't vouch for the veracity of every poll, but these subjects stood out from among thousands of emails that arrived each day in the newsroom.
Ready? Bring on the statistics.
Akron is the ninth most stressed city in America, according to a 2026 study from personal-finance company WalletHub.
If you live here, you may have guessed that.
Analysts compared more than 180 cities across 39 key metrics, including work hours, unemployment rates, divorce rates and suicide rates.
According to stress levels, Akron ranked eighth for the percentage of adults with inadequate sleep, 13th for divorce, 17th for poverty, 29th for unemployment, 71st for job security, 90th for traffic congestion and 94th for percentage of adults in fair or poor health.
It could be worse, though. Eight cities felt even more stressed.
Rounding out the Top 10, in order, were:
We've been here before. Akron ranked No. 8 in 2024 and No. 12 in 2020.
Ohioans have selected Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s global headquarters in Akron as their dream office in the state.
The online resume-making platform resume.io surveyed 3,005 workers, asking them which corporate workplaces they would most like to work from if location were no object. Surveyors asked respondents to base their choices strictly on the workplace itself, rather than salary, perks, company culture or employer reputation.
Goodyear came in at No. 1 in Ohio and No. 58 in the nation.
According to the survey's summary:
"Goodyear's Akron headquarters gives Ohio a workplace with both corporate polish and industrial memory.
"The building was designed to bring the company's teams into a more collaborative, modern environment, with atriums, research labs, training areas, a large cafeteria, fitness facilities, and open internal spaces that encourage movement through the building.
"It feels like a headquarters that understands its own heritage — rooted in Akron's rubber history, but built to look forward rather than simply preserve the past."
Procter & Gamble's headquarters in Cincinnati finished second in Ohio and 62nd in the country while Nationwide's corporate campus in Columbus came in third in the state and 103rd in the nation.
Cuyahoga Falls is one of Ohio's most envied places to buy a first home, according to a new survey.
PortlandRealEstate.com polled 3,034 prospective first-time buyers, asking them to identify the location in their state they most envy.
Cuyahoga Falls finished third in the state! According to the survey's summary:
"Close proximity to Akron and easy access to the wider Northeast Ohio job market make Cuyahoga Falls a practical choice for buyers seeking both convenience and future value.
"Its established neighborhoods, parks and growing downtown provide lifestyle appeal while housing can remain more approachable than in some nearby suburbs. Competition for well-priced homes may require buyers to move quickly or compromise on size and condition.
"For those looking for a connected suburban setting with a strong local identity, Cuyahoga Falls offers a compelling place to start."
Findlay ranked No. 1 in Ohio and Oberlin was No. 2.
Let's finish with food. That's always a good idea.
A Mission for Michael, a mental health provider in California, commissioned Cherry Data Signals to survey 3,011 people to identify regional summer foods that provide the strongest sense of comfort, nostalgia and connection.
What were the most nostalgic foods in Ohio? Here are the top three, followed by the survey's summary comments:
"Sweet corn begins appearing across Ohio just as cookout season reaches its peak. Boiled or grilled and finished with butter and salt, it needs very little before being passed around the table. The dish fits naturally beside burgers, barbecue and picnic salads, but its real nostalgia often comes from where it was bought: a roadside stand, farmers' market or local field. Crisp, juicy kernels offer one of the clearest tastes of an Ohio summer."
"Chocolate and peanut butter come together in buckeye candy, named for its resemblance to the nut of Ohio's state tree. The sweet is made by dipping a peanut butter center partly into chocolate, leaving a small circle exposed at the top. Often prepared for celebrations, family gatherings and community events, buckeyes carry an unmistakable state identity. Their rich flavor and homemade appearance can recall crowded dessert tables, familiar recipes and the pride of sharing something distinctly Ohioan."
"Along Ohio's Lake Erie shoreline, a perch fry carries the flavor of summer by the water. The fish is lightly breaded, fried until crisp and usually served with fries, slaw or tartar sauce. It is the kind of meal that follows a day of boating, fishing or exploring a lakeside town. Simple and deeply connected to place, yellow perch can bring back memories of harbor restaurants, family outings and warm evenings spent near the lake."
Mark J. Price can be reached at [email protected]
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron is stressed while Cuyahoga Falls is blessed | Mark J. Price