Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond 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
Richmond
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($86,200 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $397/mo less ($830 vs $1,227)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $18,163/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 6.1%)
Richmond, VA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $18,163 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$222k less
$86,200 vs $308,300
Richmond
Median Income
$18,163
$59,606 vs $41,443/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
75% lower
336.9 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $308,300 median home), income ($41,443 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Richmond, VA are about 395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.