Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Long Beach 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
Population
137,305
Long Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $624k less ($86,200 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $868/mo less ($830 vs $1,698)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $37,552/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 6.6%)
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,552 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$624k less
$86,200 vs $709,700
Dayton
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$37,552
$78,995 vs $41,443/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
49% lower
676.4 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Long Beach
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 10 and Long Beach 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $709,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Long Beach, CA are about 1,913 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.