Home › OH › Dayton, OH Cost of living in Dayton, OH Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 92.4 (US = 100)
How Dayton compares Where Dayton falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 92 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 92 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $350k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $350k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $200 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $200 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.2% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.2% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.68% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.68% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 300 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 300 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 19.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 19.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 20° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 20° Map of Dayton Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 92.4 metro-area #64 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.1 metro-area #37 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.26 metro-area #64 of 200 Median household income $67,088 metro-area #127 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $39,751 metro-area #100 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.1 years metro-area #111 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 32.0% metro-area #111 of 200 Foreign-born residents 4.7% metro-area #168 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 64.8% metro-area #121 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.28% metro-area #112 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.0% metro-area #121 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $350,000 metro-area #102 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.2× metro-area #124 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +3.0% metro-area #47 of 200 Price per square foot $200 metro-area #111 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,750 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,350 metro-area #39 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,335 Median days on market 6 metro-area #5 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.0% state #97 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.24% state #91 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.90% Capital gains tax 3.50% state #62 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.68% metro-area #164 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,883 metro-area #116 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 74.5 years metro-area #160 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,400 state #32 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 6.8% metro-area #59 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 87 metro-area #48 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $100 state #83 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 2 Avg commute to work 22 min metro-area #43 of 200 Commute by driving alone 77.6% metro-area #138 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 23.7% metro-area #34 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 19.5¢/kWh state #130 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $175 state #130 of 200 Gasoline $3.25/gal state #83 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $104 state #101 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,300 state #9 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 85.0 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #68 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 42 metro-area #57 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 800 metro-area #49 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 9 metro-area #43 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200 Avg winter low 20°F metro-area #147 of 200 Annual precipitation 41.6" metro-area #94 of 200 Annual snowfall 28.2" metro-area #141 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 50% metro-area #175 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 300 state #28 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,800 state #52 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 24 metro-area #150 of 200 Parks 25 Hiking areas 7 Golf courses 14 Shooting ranges 6 Lakes 3
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Dayton Major public and private employers in the Dayton, OH area.
Employer Sector Jobs Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Government Careers → Premier Health Healthcare Careers → Kettering Health Healthcare Careers → CareSource insurance Search → University of Dayton Education Search → Dayton Children's Hospital Healthcare Search →
Cities in the Dayton area Dayton (137,305) → Kettering (57,707) → Beavercreek (46,576) → Huber Heights (43,095) → Fairborn (34,494) → Troy (26,494) → Xenia (25,499) → Centerville (24,510) → Riverside (24,482) → Trotwood (23,125) → Piqua (20,441) → Miamisburg (19,877) → Springboro (19,218) → Vandalia (15,139) → Englewood (13,433) → Clayton (13,292) → West Carrollton (13,060) → Shiloh (10,539) → Tipp City (10,266) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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