Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Des Moines leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Des Moines
Iowa
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($86,200 vs $170,700)
Rent averages $165/mo less ($830 vs $995)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Des Moines by $20,935/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 5.9%)
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Households earn $20,935 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Median Home Value
$85k less
$86,200 vs $170,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.3 on the COL index
Des Moines
Median Income
$20,935
$62,378 vs $41,443/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
48% lower
703.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Des Moines
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $170,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $62,378 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Des Moines wins 16. 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 Dayton to Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $170,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Des Moines, IA are about 508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.