Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach 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
Huntington Beach
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $891k less ($86,200 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1488/mo less ($830 vs $2,318)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Commutes run 9 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 Huntington Beach by $73,304/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%)
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $73,304 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Dayton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$891k less
$86,200 vs $976,800
Dayton
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$73,304
$114,747 vs $41,443/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
85% lower
207.3 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $976,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.