Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Dayton
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $44,500 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($86,200 vs $241,600)
Rent averages $632/mo less ($830 vs $1,462)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $44,500/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$44,500
$85,943 vs $41,443/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
80% lower
266.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.0% unemployment
Dayton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$155k less
$86,200 vs $241,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 12.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 137,305 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora 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 Aurora to Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $86,200 median home), income ($85,943 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Dayton, OH are about 254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.