Dayton Skyline - Sunset September 2022 (cropped) · Blervis / CC BY 4.0The Dayton Art Institute, Belmonte Park, Grafton Hill, Dayton, OH · Warren LeMay / CC BY-SA 2.0National Museum of the U.S. Air Force · NMUSAF / CC BY-SA 4.0Day Air Ballpark · Godrags01 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Dayton is a mid-sized city of 137,305 in Ohio, with a median household income of $41,443
and a 10.0% 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, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, 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: 92.3
Dayton's overall cost of living index is 92.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dayton costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dayton, OH
National Avg
Median Home Value
$86,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$830
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$41,443
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Dayton's violent crime rate is 1339.2 per 100,000 residents
— 252% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1339.2 /100k
Property Crime
4334.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dayton is served primarily by Dayton City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dayton, OH
National Avg
School District
Dayton City
—
Elementary Schools
15
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
8
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dayton sees average highs of 36.3°F in January
and 86.7°F in July,
with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.3 inches of snow per year.
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 $86,200 and median rent is $830/month.
Dayton's violent crime rate is 1339.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4334.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dayton are operated by Dayton City.
The district has 15 elementary, 3 middle, and 8 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1. 19.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dayton, OH has a population of 137,305, a median household income of $41,443, and an unemployment rate of 10.0%.
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 36.3°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches
with about 12.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dayton, OH is covered by 11 ZIP codes: 45417, 45404, 45414, 45402, 45406, 45403, 45410, 45405, 45428, 45469, 45423.
The population of Dayton, Ohio is 137,305 with a median age of 34.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dayton: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $86,200, median household income $41,443, crime index 294 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. 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.
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