Dayton is a small town of 824 in Iowa, with a median household income of $66,250
and a 4.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dayton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dayton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dayton city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.5
Dayton's overall cost of living index is 85.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dayton costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dayton, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$100,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$548
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$66,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Dayton's violent crime rate is 841.1 per 100,000 residents
— 121% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
841.1 /100k
Property Crime
2442.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dayton is served primarily by Southeast Valley Community School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dayton, IA
National Avg
School District
Southeast Valley Community School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dayton sees average highs of 28.2°F in January
and 84.2°F in July,
with 36.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.9 inches of snow per year.
Dayton's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dayton roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $100,500 and median rent is $548/month.
Dayton's violent crime rate is 841.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2442.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dayton are operated by Southeast Valley Community School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dayton, IA has a population of 824, a median household income of $66,250, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Dayton averages 28.2°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.9 inches
with about 35.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dayton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50530.
The population of Dayton, Iowa is 824 with a median age of 47.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dayton: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $100,500, median household income $66,250, crime index 179 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dayton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
