What are the schools like in Dayton, WA?

Dayton is served primarily by Dayton School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Dayton?

The median household income in Dayton, WA is $68,671 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Dayton, WA?

Dayton has an average high temperature of 41.5°F in January and 87.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 18.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Dayton, WA affordable or expensive?

Dayton's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dayton is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $195,300 and the median rent is $846 per month.

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

Dayton has a violent crime rate of 100.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2333.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dayton, WA a Good Place to Live?

Dayton is a small town of 2,763 in Washington, with a median household income of $68,671 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Dayton stands out for below-average home prices, 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: 99.0

Dayton's overall cost of living index is 99.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dayton costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dayton, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$195,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$846	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,671	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Dayton's violent crime rate is 100.4 per 100,000 residents — 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

100.4 /100k

Property Crime

2333.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Dayton is served primarily by Dayton School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dayton, WA	National Avg
School District	Dayton School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dayton sees average highs of 41.5°F in January and 87.6°F in July, with 18.8 inches of annual precipitation and 15.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dayton, WA
Average High — January	41.5°F
Average High — July	87.6°F
Annual Precipitation	18.8"
Annual Snowfall	15.8"

Demographics

Metric	Dayton, WA	National Avg
Population	2,763	—
Median Age	50.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	12.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	16.6%	22.2%
65 and over	25.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Waitsburg, WA 9 mi Dixie, WA 15 mi Starbuck, WA 16 mi Prescott, WA 16 mi Pomeroy, WA 21 mi

ZIP Codes in Dayton

Dayton, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

99328

Dayton vs Other Cities

Dayton, WA vs Waitsburg, WA Dayton, WA vs Dixie, WA Dayton, WA vs Starbuck, WA Dayton, WA vs Prescott, WA Dayton, WA vs Pomeroy, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dayton, WA affordable or expensive?

Dayton's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dayton roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $195,300 and median rent is $846/month.

What is the crime rate in Dayton, WA?

Dayton's violent crime rate is 100.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2333.8 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 Dayton School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 21.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dayton, WA a good place to live?

Dayton, WA has a population of 2,763, a median household income of $68,671, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. 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 41.5°F in January and 87.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.8 inches with about 15.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dayton?

Dayton, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 99328.

What is the population of Dayton?

The population of Dayton, Washington is 2,763 with a median age of 50.0. 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 99 (100 = US average), median home $195,300, median household income $68,671, crime index 60 (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.