Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Houston leads 14 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Houston
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($86,200 vs $235,000)
Rent averages $405/mo less ($830 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Houston by $18,997/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 6.6%)
Houston, TX
Pros
Households earn $18,997 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.6%)
14% less violent crime than Dayton
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$149k less
$86,200 vs $235,000
Houston
Median Income
$18,997
$60,440 vs $41,443/yr
Houston
Violent Crime
14% lower
1148.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Houston
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.0% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $235,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $60,440 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 263⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 302⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Houston leads 14 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 9 and Houston wins 14. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $235,000 median home), income ($41,443 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Houston, TX are about 937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.