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Living in
Dayton.
About
Life in Dayton
Living in Dayton means embracing a city that's honest about what it is: a practical, affordable place built on industrial grit that's successfully reinvented itself for the modern economy. The cost of living is genuinely low—median rent sits around $918 a month and median home values hover near $100,600—which makes homeownership realistic here even on moderate salaries. The job market isn't flashy, but it's solid and diverse; the region's economy has shifted from its manufacturing roots to healthcare, defense and aerospace (thanks to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base), and logistics, landing Dayton consistent recognition as a top mid-sized metro for economic development.
Dayton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.9%
Foreign-Born
5.3%
Broadband Internet
85.5%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Dayton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dayton, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (12.8%), and 4.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.9%
of households
Married Couples
23.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.12
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Dayton
In Dayton, rent runs 11% below the OH average, and home values are 53% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,673
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $137,939 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts above OH average
Unemployment in Dayton
Unemployment in Dayton is 1.5 percentage points higher than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Dayton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.3 min avg
How Dayton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dayton, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY)
Small hub638k passengers boarded in 2025
- 55 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 273% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dayton runs 273% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,229.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,026.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dayton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Montgomery County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Montgomery County, which includes Dayton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,500 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $41,350 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,300 |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $96,950 |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,200 |
| 2020 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,500 |
| 2019 | 27 | Winter Weather | $502.0M |
| 2018 | 20 | Winter Weather | $202,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Montgomery County, which includes Dayton, is typically good — 220 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
220
per year
Moderate Days
141
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dayton has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.7"
Annual Snowfall
12.3"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
107
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 20°F | 3.17" |
| Feb | 40°F | 23°F | 2.35" |
| Mar | 51°F | 31°F | 3.54" |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 4.45" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.38" |
| Jun | 84°F | 62°F | 4.41" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 4.03" |
| Aug | 86°F | 64°F | 3.12" |
| Sep | 79°F | 56°F | 3.03" |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 3.00" |
| Nov | 52°F | 33°F | 3.04" |
| Dec | 41°F | 26°F | 3.13" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dayton
Dayton has 6 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
8.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Dayton VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Kettering Health Dayton
Acute Care Hospitals
Miami Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Dayton Childrens Hospital
Childrens · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Kettering Health Main Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Kettering
Soin Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.2 mi away · Beaver Creek
88th Medical Group (wright-patterson Afb)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 8.9 mi away · Wright-Patterson Afb
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dayton
Dayton's student/teacher ratio is 15.9:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 21.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
47
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Dayton
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,682 students · in-state tuition $50,610 · 81% graduate · median earnings $83,775 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 129 students · 80% graduate
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Wright State University-Main Campus
7.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,762 students · in-state tuition $12,268 · 49% graduate · median earnings $53,497 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 549 students · in-state tuition $16,800 · 66% graduate · median earnings $68,877 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dayton
Dayton has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
17 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dayton
Dayton Metro Library
215 E. Third St., Dayton
Belmont Branch Library
1041 Watervliet Ave., Dayton
Burkhardt Avenue Branch Library
4704 Burkhardt Ave., Dayton
E. C. Doren Branch
701 Troy St., Dayton
East Branch Library
2008 Wyoming St., Dayton
Northwest Branch Library
2410 Philadelphia Dr., Dayton
Southeast Branch Library
21 Watervliet Ave, Dayton
West Branch
300 Abbey Ave, Dayton
West Branch
300 Abbey Ave, Dayton
Cities Near Dayton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dayton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dayton FAQ
Is Dayton, Ohio affordable?⌄
Dayton's median rent is $918/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $45,247/year. Median home value is $100,600.
Is Dayton, Ohio safe?⌄
Dayton's violent crime rate was 1230 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4027 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dayton, Ohio?⌄
Dayton has an unemployment rate of 6.1%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dayton, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Dayton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $918/month and median household income is $45,247/year. The median home value is $100,600. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dayton, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Dayton is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from