Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Buckeye leads 15 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Dayton
Ohio
8
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $52,745 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 22.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($86,200 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($830 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Buckeye
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $52,745/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Median Income
$52,745
$94,188 vs $41,443/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
88% lower
166.8 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.0% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 86.7°F
Dayton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$256k less
$86,200 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C (77) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 137,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 15 of 23 categories. Buckeye wins 15 and Dayton wins 8. 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 Buckeye to Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $86,200 median home), income ($94,188 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Dayton, OH are about 1,630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.