Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 20 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
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $331k less ($86,200 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $797/mo less ($830 vs $1,627)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $33,933/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 5.4%)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $33,933 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Dayton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$331k less
$86,200 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$33,933
$75,376 vs $41,443/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.0% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 20 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Fort Lauderdale wins 13. 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $417,600 median home), income ($41,443 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.