Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 18 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Peoria
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($86,200 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $808/mo less ($830 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $45,316/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 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $45,316 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$297k less
$86,200 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$45,316
$86,759 vs $41,443/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
81% lower
254.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 10.0% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 18 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 5 and Peoria wins 18. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $383,600 median home), income ($41,443 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Peoria, AZ are about 1,602 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.