Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Miami Gardens 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 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($86,200 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $753/mo less ($830 vs $1,583)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Commutes run 11 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 Miami Gardens by $14,628/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 7.9%)
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
69% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $14,628 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (7.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Dayton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
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
$214k less
$86,200 vs $299,700
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$14,628
$56,071 vs $41,443/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
69% lower
414.6 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
7.9% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Miami Gardens, 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 | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $56,071 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Miami Gardens leads 13 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 10 and Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $299,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Miami Gardens, FL are about 983 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.