Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Dayton leads 12 of 22 categories
Compton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,822
Dayton
Ohio
12
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,285 more per year on average
5% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (7.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Dayton
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $403k less ($86,200 vs $489,400)
Rent averages $634/mo less ($830 vs $1,464)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 19.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $28,285/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 7.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$28,285
$69,728 vs $41,443/yr
Compton
Violent Crime
5% lower
1271.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Compton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
7.9% vs 10.0% unemployment
Dayton
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$403k less
$86,200 vs $489,400
Dayton
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 137,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Dayton leads 12 of 22 categories. Compton wins 10 and Dayton wins 12. 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 Compton to Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $86,200 median home), income ($69,728 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Dayton, OH are about 1,913 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.