Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Gresham leads 16 of 23 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 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($86,200 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $622/mo less ($830 vs $1,452)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Commutes run 6 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 Gresham by $27,994/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 5.8%)
Gresham, OR
Pros
Households earn $27,994 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 23.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$326k less
$86,200 vs $411,700
Dayton
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Median Income
$27,994
$69,437 vs $41,443/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
69% lower
410.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Gresham
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $69,437 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Gresham 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $411,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Gresham, OR are about 1,964 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.