Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Lehigh Acres, FL
🏆 Dayton leads 11 of 20 categories
Dayton
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Lehigh Acres
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,733 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($86,200 vs $231,500)
Rent averages $568/mo less ($830 vs $1,398)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
More college-educated — 19.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lehigh Acres by $18,290/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 5.5%)
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Households earn $18,290 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$145k less
$86,200 vs $231,500
Lehigh Acres
Median Income
$18,290
$59,733 vs $41,443/yr
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Lehigh Acres, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $231,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,398⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $59,733 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | LEE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 62.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 124,440 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Lehigh Acres's 102.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Dayton leads 11 of 20 categories. Dayton wins 11 and Lehigh Acres wins 9. 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 Lehigh Acres or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $231,500 median home), income ($41,443 vs $59,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Lehigh Acres, FL are about 922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.