What are the schools like in Dayton, IN?

Dayton is served primarily by Tippecanoe School Corp. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Dayton?

The median household income in Dayton, IN is $69,550 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

What is the weather like in Dayton, IN?

Dayton has an average high temperature of 33.2°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.5 inches.

Dayton, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dayton, IN affordable or expensive?

Dayton's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dayton is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $155,800 and the median rent is $919 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dayton, IN?

Dayton has a violent crime rate of 73.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 804.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dayton, IN a Good Place to Live?

Dayton is a small town of 1,099 in Indiana, with a median household income of $69,550 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Dayton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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: 91.5

Dayton's overall cost of living index is 91.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dayton costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dayton, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$155,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$919	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,550	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Dayton's violent crime rate is 73.2 per 100,000 residents — 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

73.2 /100k

Property Crime

804.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Dayton is served primarily by Tippecanoe School Corp. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dayton, IN	National Avg
School District	Tippecanoe School Corp	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	6	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dayton sees average highs of 33.2°F in January and 83.6°F in July, with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation and 20.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dayton, IN
Average High — January	33.2°F
Average High — July	83.6°F
Annual Precipitation	41.6"
Annual Snowfall	20.5"

Demographics

Metric	Dayton, IN	National Avg
Population	1,099	—
Median Age	36.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.4%	22.2%
65 and over	17.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lafayette, IN 5 mi Mulberry, IN 6 mi Stockwell, IN 6 mi Buck Creek, IN 8 mi West Lafayette, IN 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Dayton

Dayton, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

47941

Dayton vs Other Cities

Dayton, IN vs Lafayette, IN Dayton, IN vs Mulberry, IN Dayton, IN vs Stockwell, IN Dayton, IN vs Buck Creek, IN Dayton, IN vs West Lafayette, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dayton, IN affordable or expensive?

Dayton's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dayton roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $155,800 and median rent is $919/month.

What is the crime rate in Dayton, IN?

Dayton's violent crime rate is 73.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 804.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dayton?

Public schools in Dayton are operated by Tippecanoe School Corp. The district has 11 elementary, 6 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dayton, IN a good place to live?

Dayton, IN has a population of 1,099, a median household income of $69,550, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Dayton?

Dayton averages 33.2°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches with about 20.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dayton?

Dayton, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 47941.

What is the population of Dayton?

The population of Dayton, Indiana is 1,099 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dayton?

Key numbers for living in Dayton: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $155,800, median household income $69,550, crime index 27 (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.