Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 17 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($86,200 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $895/mo less ($830 vs $1,725)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $52,919/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 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $52,919 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$294k less
$86,200 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$52,919
$94,362 vs $41,443/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
89% lower
146.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.0% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 17 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 6 and Richardson wins 17. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $379,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Richardson, TX are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.