Below Average CostVery SafeRockingham County Public Schools
MainStreetDaytonVirginia · Bill McChesney from Charlottesville, VA / CC BY 2.02016-06-26 16 21 24 View north along Virginia State Route 42 (John Wayland Highway) just north of Virginia State Route 290 (Huffman Drive) in Dayton, Rockingham County, Virginia · Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0
Dayton is a small town of 1,915 in Virginia, with a median household income of $81,346
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dayton stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, 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: 93.2
Dayton's overall cost of living index is 93.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dayton costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dayton, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$294,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$958
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$81,346
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Dayton's violent crime rate is 122.0 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
122.0 /100k
Property Crime
507.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dayton is served primarily by Rockingham County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dayton, VA
National Avg
School District
Rockingham County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
15
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
43.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dayton sees average highs of 42.1°F in January
and 86.0°F in July,
with 39.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 19.4 inches of snow per year.
Dayton's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dayton roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $294,200 and median rent is $958/month.
Dayton's violent crime rate is 122.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 507.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dayton are operated by Rockingham County Public Schools.
The district has 15 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 43.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dayton, VA has a population of 1,915, a median household income of $81,346, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
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 42.1°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.0 inches
with about 19.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dayton, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 22821.
The population of Dayton, Virginia is 1,915 with a median age of 33.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dayton: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $294,200, median household income $81,346, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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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