Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 17 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($86,200 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $881/mo less ($830 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $55,864/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 5.5%)
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $55,864 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$310k less
$86,200 vs $396,100
Goodyear
Median Income
$55,864
$97,307 vs $41,443/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
86% lower
182.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
20.7°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $396,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 17 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 6 and Goodyear wins 17. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $396,100 median home), income ($41,443 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Goodyear, AZ are about 1,620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.