Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 Miami 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
Miami
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($86,200 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $664/mo less ($830 vs $1,494)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miami by $13,415/yr
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.0%)
Miami, FL
Pros
65% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $13,415 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$348k less
$86,200 vs $433,900
Miami
Median Income
$13,415
$54,858 vs $41,443/yr
Miami
Violent Crime
65% lower
473.3 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Miami
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $433,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,494⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $54,858 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 78.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 443,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Miami leads 14 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 9 and Miami 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 Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $433,900 median home), income ($41,443 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Miami, FL are about 995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.