Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $539k less ($86,200 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $1023/mo less ($830 vs $1,853)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $45,175/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 6.9%)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,175 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Dayton
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$539k less
$86,200 vs $624,800
Dayton
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$45,175
$86,618 vs $41,443/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
31% lower
923.1 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
6.9% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 243⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 8 and Richmond wins 15. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $624,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Richmond, CA are about 2,041 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.