Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe 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
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $296k less ($86,200 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $642/mo less ($830 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $30,579/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 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $30,579 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$296k less
$86,200 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$30,579
$72,022 vs $41,443/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
65% lower
470.3 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 8 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $382,100 median home), income ($41,443 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Tempe, AZ are about 1,594 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.