Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Eugene leads 15 of 22 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
Eugene
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($86,200 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $439/mo less ($830 vs $1,269)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Eugene by $20,038/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 7.1%)
Eugene, OR
Pros
76% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $20,038 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (7.1%)
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$320k less
$86,200 vs $406,000
Eugene
Median Income
$20,038
$61,481 vs $41,443/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
76% lower
317.9 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Eugene
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
7.1% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $406,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,269 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $61,481 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 44.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 45.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Eugene leads 15 of 22 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Eugene wins 15. 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $406,000 median home), income ($41,443 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Eugene, OR are about 2,004 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.