Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville 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
Jacksonville
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($86,200 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $451/mo less ($830 vs $1,281)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Jacksonville by $22,695/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 4.8%)
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Households earn $22,695 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$157k less
$86,200 vs $243,000
Jacksonville
Median Income
$22,695
$64,138 vs $41,443/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
53% lower
623.8 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 10.0% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $243,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,281 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $64,138 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 57.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 17 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 6 and Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $243,000 median home), income ($41,443 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Jacksonville, FL are about 668 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.