Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Dayton leads 12 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,305
Oakland
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $798k less ($86,200 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $1019/mo less ($830 vs $1,849)
30% less violent crime than Oakland
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $52,946/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 5.8%)
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,946 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Dayton
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Violent Crime
30% lower
1339.2 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Dayton
Median Home Value
$798k less
$86,200 vs $883,800
Dayton
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$52,946
$94,389 vs $41,443/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dayton leads 12 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 12 and Oakland wins 11. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $883,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Oakland, CA are about 2,038 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.