Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 15 of 22 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($86,200 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $718/mo less ($830 vs $1,548)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $51,853/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 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $51,853 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.3 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$340k less
$86,200 vs $425,800
Meridian
Median Income
$51,853
$93,296 vs $41,443/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
89% lower
146.8 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
7.3 pp lower
2.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Meridian leads 15 of 22 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Meridian wins 15. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $425,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Meridian, ID are about 1,671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.