Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Port St. Lucie
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($86,200 vs $292,900)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($830 vs $1,684)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Port St. Lucie
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $33,597/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%)
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
Households earn $33,597 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 26.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$207k less
$86,200 vs $292,900
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$33,597
$75,040 vs $41,443/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
91% lower
116.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $292,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Port St. Lucie wins 16. 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $292,900 median home), income ($41,443 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.