Cleveland vs Dayton
Compare Cleveland, OH and Dayton, OH on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $957/mo in Cleveland and $941/mo in Dayton, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,108/mo and $1,023/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (231 vs 240 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 84°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Dayton; if walkable daily life matters more, Dayton screens stronger on the walkability proxy (21 vs 11). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Dayton leads 76 to 73 on the cost and climate screen.
Cleveland leads 84 to 76 on the work screen.
Dayton leads 40 to 24 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Cleveland is roughly $127,500 in Dayton using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Cleveland | Dayton | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $957/mo | $941/mo | Dayton |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,108/mo | $1,023/mo | Dayton |
| Median home value | $190,000 | $171,000 | Dayton |
| State income tax | 2.8% | 2.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 23.6 min | Dayton |
| Safety score | 59/100 | 56/100 | Cleveland |
| School score | 4/10 | 5/10 | Dayton |
| Walkability estimate | 11/100 | 21/100 | Dayton |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 5/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 0 | 174.0 | Dayton |
| Mountain distance | 81 mi | 52 mi | Dayton |
| Coast distance | 304 mi | 379 mi | Cleveland |
What stands out
Cleveland stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 17 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Cleveland tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Dayton stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 47 miles
- Mountain access within 52 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Dayton tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Cleveland cheaper than Dayton?
On public benchmarks Dayton is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $957/mo in Cleveland vs $941/mo in Dayton; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,108/mo vs $1,023/mo; state income tax is 2.8% vs 2.8%.
Is Cleveland or Dayton safer?
Cleveland screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 59/100 for Cleveland and 56/100 for Dayton (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Cleveland or Dayton?
School screens show 4/10 for Cleveland vs 5/10 for Dayton, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Cleveland and Dayton?
Cleveland: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 12°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Dayton: 84°F / 18°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match