The Town FilesDayton, Kentucky
City in Campbell County · population 5,666 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,500
- Household income
- $65,992
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 39.6
Dayton is a city of 5,666 people in Campbell County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $163,500, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 95% of Kentucky towns.
How Dayton ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dayton is worth $163,500, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $65,992, which is more affordable than 76% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $1,137 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dayton | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,500 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $1,137 | $837 |
| Median household income | $65,992 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1943 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Dayton
| People | Dayton | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Dayton
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 23.6°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.0 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 9, 1999 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 376 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 8, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 96 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 8, 1998.
Severe weather in Campbell County since 1996
Campbell County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4497: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Campbell County
Campbell County had 31,709 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,401 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Dayton
2 public schools with 870 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Elementary School | PK-6 | 501 | 14.3 |
| Dayton High School | 7-12 | 369 | 12.3 |
Towns near Dayton
- Bellevue, KY1.1 mi · 5,548 people · home $206,500
- Fort Thomas, KY2.1 mi · 17,438 people · home $335,000
- Newport, KY2.2 mi · 14,150 people · home $217,600
- Cincinnati, OH3.0 mi · 309,317 people · home $230,900
- Southgate, KY3.4 mi · 3,648 people · home $190,800
- Norwood, OH3.4 mi · 19,043 people · home $258,700
- St. Bernard, OH4.4 mi · 4,070 people · home $162,700
- Turpin Hills, OH4.7 mi · 5,162 people · home $444,300
Dayton questions
Is Dayton, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dayton scores better for retirees than 22% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 9%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dayton is valued at $163,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,992, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,137 a month.
What is the weather like in Dayton?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 23.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 16.0 inches of snow.
Does Dayton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 9, 1999. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)