Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks 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
Sparks
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($86,200 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($830 vs $1,526)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $41,495/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%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $41,495 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$337k less
$86,200 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$41,495
$82,938 vs $41,443/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
71% lower
394.4 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.0% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 15 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 8 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $423,500 median home), income ($41,443 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Sparks, NV are about 1,876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.