Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton 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
Hampton
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($86,200 vs $219,800)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($830 vs $1,255)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Cons
Median income trails Hampton by $22,987/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 6.5%)
Hampton, VA
Pros
82% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $22,987 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (6.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$134k less
$86,200 vs $219,800
Hampton
Median Income
$22,987
$64,430 vs $41,443/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
82% lower
247.6 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Hampton
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $219,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 137,217 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Hampton 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $219,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Hampton, VA are about 468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.