Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Lansing leads 13 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$50,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $26k less ($86,200 vs $112,200)
Rent averages $124/mo less ($830 vs $954)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 31°F
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lansing by $9,304/yr
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 8.3%)
Lansing, MI
Pros
Households earn $9,304 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (8.3%)
More college-educated — 29.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 50" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$26k less
$86,200 vs $112,200
Dayton
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Median Income
$9,304
$50,747 vs $41,443/yr
Lansing
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
8.3% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $112,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $954 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $50,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 8.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 260⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| 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) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 29.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lansing leads 13 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 10 and Lansing wins 13. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $112,200 median home), income ($41,443 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Lansing, MI are about 203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.