Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Dayton leads 13 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Dayton
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Dayton
Cons
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Dayton by $4,172/yr
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 10.0%)
Dayton, OH
Pros
14% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (10.0%)
Households earn $4,172 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Income
$4,172
$41,443 vs $37,271/yr
Dayton
Violent Crime
14% lower
1339.2 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Dayton
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
10.0% vs 11.9% unemployment
Dayton
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.3 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $41,443 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 10.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 294⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 352⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 12.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 137,305 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dayton leads 13 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 10 and Dayton wins 13. 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 Cleveland to Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $86,200 median home), income ($37,271 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Dayton, OH are about 177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.