Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Bridgeport leads 12 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Dayton
Ohio
11
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
71% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $12,997 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (9.5%)
More college-educated — 24.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($86,200 vs $227,200)
Rent averages $539/mo less ($830 vs $1,369)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bridgeport by $12,997/yr
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Income
$12,997
$54,440 vs $41,443/yr
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
71% lower
392.9 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Bridgeport
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
9.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Dayton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$141k less
$86,200 vs $227,200
Dayton
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 41.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 12.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 137,305 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 20.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bridgeport leads 12 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 12 and Dayton wins 11. 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 Bridgeport to Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $86,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Dayton, OH are about 586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.