Is Dayton, KY a Good Place to Live?
Dayton is a small town of 5,674 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $61,432 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% 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: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 94.1Dayton's overall cost of living index is 94.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dayton costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Dayton, KY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $131,400 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $937 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $61,432 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeDayton's violent crime rate is 240.0 per 100,000 residents — 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dayton is served primarily by Dayton Independent. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Dayton, KY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Dayton Independent | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.1:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 91.1% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Dayton sees average highs of 40.6°F in January and 86.6°F in July, with 43.4 inches of annual precipitation and 16.0 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Dayton, KY |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 40.6°F |
| Average High — July | 86.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" |
Demographics
| Metric | Dayton, KY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,674 | — |
| Median Age | 39.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 89.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 2.6% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 18.4% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Dayton
Dayton, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: