Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 17 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Vancouver
Washington
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $317k less ($86,200 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $695/mo less ($830 vs $1,525)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $32,183/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 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $32,183 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$317k less
$86,200 vs $403,400
Dayton
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$32,183
$73,626 vs $41,443/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
57% lower
582.3 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Vancouver
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 17 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 6 and Vancouver wins 17. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $403,400 median home), income ($41,443 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Vancouver, WA are about 1,971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.