Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 15 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($86,200 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $481/mo less ($830 vs $1,311)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than O'Fallon
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $63,420/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 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $63,420 more per year on average
96% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$197k less
$86,200 vs $283,600
O'Fallon
Median Income
$63,420
$104,863 vs $41,443/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
96% lower
59.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
3.1% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 15 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 8 and O'Fallon 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $283,600 median home), income ($41,443 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and O'Fallon, MO are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.