What it's like to live in Clayton
Clayton is a small city in Ohio with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, household incomes running above the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Clayton deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold winters, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Clayton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Clayton
Based on Clayton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,140
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,800 a year
- 38% of Clayton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$41,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,820
- Homes cost 2.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 24% below US
$1,070/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,070 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $208,200. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $208,200 · 38% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Montgomery County is 5.0%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Montgomery County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 54% below US
150 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 1023/100k · Clayton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 21% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (13 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Clayton's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,070/mo) equals 14% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Clayton
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