Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 15 of 22 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
Kirkland
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $852k less ($86,200 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1420/mo less ($830 vs $2,250)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $94,165/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 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $94,165 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Dayton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$852k less
$86,200 vs $937,700
Dayton
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$94,165
$135,608 vs $41,443/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
95% lower
60.6 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Kirkland wins 15. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $937,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Kirkland, WA are about 1,953 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.