The Town FilesDayton, Texas
City in Liberty County · population 8,777 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,600
- Household income
- $59,691
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 31.4
Dayton is a city of 8,777 people in Liberty County, Texas. The median home is worth $227,600, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 89% of Texas towns.
How Dayton ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dayton is worth $227,600, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $59,691, which is more affordable than 20% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,045 a month. 65.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dayton | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,600 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,045 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $59,691 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 65.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dayton
| People | Dayton | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Dayton
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 41.4°F. About 64.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 84 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 9 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 21, 1992 about 5.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 109 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 5, 1974.
Severe weather in Liberty County since 1996
Liberty County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Liberty County
Liberty County had 20,119 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,677 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Dayton
8 public schools with 5,874 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAYTON H S | 9-12 | 1,647 | 16.5 |
| WILSON J H | 6-8 | 1,370 | 17.1 |
| RICHTER EL | K-5 | 882 | 15.8 |
| KIMMIE M BROWN EL | K-5 | 853 | 15.8 |
| AUSTIN EL | K-5 | 771 | 16.8 |
| COLBERT EL | PK-PK | 252 | 18.0 |
| PREMIER H S OF DAYTON (charter) | 9-12 | 87 | 14.5 |
| FREDDA NOTTINGHAM ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CENTER | 11-12 | 12 | — |
Towns near Dayton
- Liberty, TX9.0 mi · 8,279 people · home $175,300
- Crosby, TX9.9 mi · 3,417 people · home $226,700
- Mont Belvieu, TX11.9 mi · 7,654 people · home $411,000
- Barrett, TX12.4 mi · 5,223 people · home $190,000
- Highlands, TX15.6 mi · 8,612 people · home $214,400
- Atascocita, TX15.7 mi · 88,174 people · home $307,400
- Baytown, TX17.3 mi · 83,701 people · home $197,300
- Channelview, TX18.6 mi · 45,688 people · home $195,900
Dayton questions
Is Dayton, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dayton scores better for retirees than 26% of Texas towns and quieter than 67%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.4).
How much does a house cost in Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dayton is valued at $227,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,691, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,045 a month.
What is the weather like in Dayton?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 41.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Dayton get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 21, 1992. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)