The Town FilesDayton, Ohio
City in Montgomery County · population 137,644 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $100,600
- Household income
- $45,247
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 34.1
Dayton is a city of 137,644 people in Montgomery County, Ohio. The median home is worth $100,600, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Ohio towns, better transit than 96% of Ohio towns, hipper than 93% of Ohio towns.
How Dayton ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dayton is worth $100,600, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $45,247, which is more affordable than 79% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $918 a month. 48.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dayton | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,600 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $918 | $914 |
| Median household income | $45,247 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 48.4% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Dayton
| People | Dayton | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 90.9% |
Weather in Dayton
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.3 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 27, 2019 about 0.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 201 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 82 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2019 | Tornado | DR-4447: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslide |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 250,085 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,439 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Dayton
78 public schools with 30,290 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont High School | 7-12 | 1,124 | 18.1 |
| Stebbins High School | 9-12 | 1,119 | 18.7 |
| DECA PREP (charter) | K-8 | 938 | 17.1 |
| Stivers School For The Arts | 7-12 | 835 | 16.4 |
| Pathway School of Discovery (charter) | K-8 | 800 | 22.9 |
| Northridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 781 | 18.2 |
| David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center | 9-12 | 773 | 16.1 |
| Hadley E Watts Middle School | 6-8 | 732 | 15.9 |
| Oakwood High School | 9-12 | 668 | 19.1 |
| Emerson Academy (charter) | K-8 | 667 | 19.6 |
| North Dayton School of Discovery (charter) | K-8 | 596 | 15.3 |
| Kiser Elementary School | PK-6 | 568 | 13.2 |
Towns near Dayton
- Shiloh, OH2.7 mi · 10,952 people · home $126,800
- Fort McKinley, OH2.8 mi · 3,473 people · home $59,900
- Riverside, OH4.0 mi · 24,474 people · home $147,800
- Oakwood, OH4.7 mi · 9,572 people · home $370,100
- Moraine, OH6.4 mi · 6,393 people · home $156,800
- Trotwood, OH6.5 mi · 23,070 people · home $113,200
- Vandalia, OH6.5 mi · 15,209 people · home $197,000
- Kettering, OH6.7 mi · 57,862 people · home $208,500
Dayton questions
Is Dayton, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dayton scores better for retirees than 1% of Ohio towns and quieter than 4%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dayton is valued at $100,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,247, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $918 a month.
What is the weather like in Dayton?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.3 inches of snow.
Does Dayton get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 27, 2019. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)