Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($86,200 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $738/mo less ($830 vs $1,568)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $46,101/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 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $46,101 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$258k less
$86,200 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$46,101
$87,544 vs $41,443/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
93% lower
92.3 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 5 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $343,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Virginia Beach, VA are about 489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.