Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Livonia leads 14 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Livonia
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($86,200 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $405/mo less ($830 vs $1,235)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 30°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $51,015/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 5.0%)
Livonia, MI
Pros
Households earn $51,015 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$163k less
$86,200 vs $249,000
Dayton
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 82.9°F
Livonia
Median Income
$51,015
$92,458 vs $41,443/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
83% lower
228.1 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $249,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $92,458 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 13.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 33.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 36.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 14 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 9 and Livonia wins 14. 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 Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $249,000 median home), income ($41,443 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Livonia, MI are about 186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.