Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Dayton
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,355 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($86,200 vs $242,300)
Rent averages $215/mo less ($830 vs $1,045)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Athens-Clarke County by $6,355/yr
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Median Income
$6,355
$47,798 vs $41,443/yr
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
70% lower
406.1 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.0% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.7°F
Dayton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$156k less
$86,200 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 41.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 12.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 137,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 14 and Dayton wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Athens-Clarke County to Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $86,200 median home), income ($47,798 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Dayton, OH are about 406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.