Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh 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
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($86,200 vs $171,800)
Rent averages $323/mo less ($830 vs $1,153)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Pittsburgh
Cons
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $18,744/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 5.7%)
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $18,744 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$86k less
$86,200 vs $171,800
Dayton
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$18,744
$60,187 vs $41,443/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
68% lower
427.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $171,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 9 and Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $171,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Pittsburgh, PA are about 228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.