Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland leads 15 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Lakeland
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($86,200 vs $207,800)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($830 vs $1,217)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lakeland by $16,847/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%)
Lakeland, FL
Pros
96% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $16,847 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$122k less
$86,200 vs $207,800
Lakeland
Median Income
$16,847
$58,290 vs $41,443/yr
Lakeland
Violent Crime
96% lower
56.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Lakeland
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.0% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $207,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,217 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $58,290 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 17 ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 114,404 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 15 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 8 and Lakeland 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $207,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Lakeland, FL are about 820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.