Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($86,200 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $259/mo less ($830 vs $1,089)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Cons
Median income trails Provo by $16,500/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 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
85% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $16,500 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$305k less
$86,200 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$16,500
$57,943 vs $41,443/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
85% lower
206.6 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.0% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 10 and Provo wins 13. 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $391,500 median home), income ($41,443 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Provo, UT are about 1,447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.