Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison 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
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($86,200 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $461/mo less ($830 vs $1,291)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 28°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $33,452/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 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
Households earn $33,452 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.4 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$240k less
$86,200 vs $326,600
Dayton
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$33,452
$74,895 vs $41,443/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
81% lower
256.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
7.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 10 and Madison 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 Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $326,600 median home), income ($41,443 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Madison, WI are about 354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.