Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Dayton leads 12 of 23 categories
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
El Monte
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $511k less ($86,200 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $775/mo less ($830 vs $1,605)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
More college-educated — 19.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails El Monte by $18,486/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 7.0%)
El Monte, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $18,486 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Dayton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$511k less
$86,200 vs $597,200
El Monte
Median Income
$18,486
$59,929 vs $41,443/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
68% lower
423.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
7.0% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $59,929 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dayton leads 12 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 12 and El Monte 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 Dayton to El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $597,200 median home), income ($41,443 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and El Monte, CA are about 1,898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.