Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 18 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Roseville
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $511k less ($86,200 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $1110/mo less ($830 vs $1,940)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $70,822/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 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,822 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$511k less
$86,200 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$70,822
$112,265 vs $41,443/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
84% lower
219.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 18 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 5 and Roseville wins 18. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $596,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Roseville, CA are about 1,972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.