Dayton, OH, known as 'The Birthplace of Aviation,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Montgomery County, Dayton is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Cincinnati (54 miles) and Columbus (72 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Dayton's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Dayton is home to several iconic landmarks, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the historic Carillon Historical Park, and the scenic RiverScape MetroPark. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Boonshoft Museum of Discovery to the bustling 2nd Street Market, known for its shopping and dining. Dayton's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Midwestern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Dayton Air Show and the Dayton Celtic Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Dayton's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Dayton contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Dayton is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Dayton Art Institute and the Schuster Performing Arts Center are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Dayton provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Dayton’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Dayton Dragons (Midwest League), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Dayton include aerospace, healthcare, and education, with significant employers such as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Premier Health driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient for residents.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.
Commute
Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.
Crime
This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.
Employment
Low income levels and high unemployment rates results in a low score in the employment category. It could prove difficult to find well-paying employment in this area.
Ratings
Surveys and polls conducted by AreaVibes with residents of the area revealed unfavorable results concerning the walkability of amenities, the availability of parks and public transit access.
Dayton, Ohio is a medium-sized city with a population of 140,444 people. Individuals of White (54%) and Black or African American (39%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. Dayton is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 35% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Dayton is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Without the right tools, relocating to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Dayton, Ohio could be a good experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. To help you find the best places to live in and around Dayton, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, commute, health & safety, employment and more.
Dayton, OH receives 66/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #601 in Ohio and #10,281 in the USA. Based on the scores for each individual category, Dayton has been rewarded with high marks for housing (B). Dayton does not do well for the following: crime (F) and employment (F). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Dayton excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Dayton. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Dayton are affordable. Median real estate prices in Dayton come in at $69,400, which is 47.4% lower than the Ohio average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Dayton, the home price to income ratio is 2, which is 23.1% lower than the Ohio average.
| Statistic | Dayton | Ohio | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 23min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 71.1% | 83.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.6% | 7.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 5.6% | 1.7% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 7.5% | 2.3% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.9% | 3.7% | 4.6% |
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