Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $15k less ($86,200 vs $101,500)
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
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 6.8%)
Erie, PA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Median Home Value
$15k less
$86,200 vs $101,500
Dayton
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Income
$1,692
$43,135 vs $41,443/yr
Erie
Violent Crime
72% lower
375.6 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Erie
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.8% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $101,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $43,135 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 22.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Erie 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 Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $101,500 median home), income ($41,443 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Erie, PA are about 269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.