Dayton ( ) is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the time of 2020 United States census. The Dayton metropolitan area has an estimated 822,000 residents and is the state's fourth-largest metropolitan area. Dayton is located within Ohio's Miami Valley region, 40 miles (64 km) north of Cincinnati and 55 miles (89 km) southwest of Columbus, Ohio. Dayton was founded in 1796 along the Great Miami River and named after Jonathan Dayton, a Founding Father of the United States who owned a significant amount of land in the area. It grew in the 19th century as a canal town and was home to man…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Dayton ranks

All →

#27Most affordable in OH #52Most walkable in OH #166Most conserved land in OH All OH rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code45401, 45402, 45403

Area code937

Living in Dayton

Housing in Dayton

$141K▲ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Dayton home is worth about $141,000, up 1.1% in a year, 43% below the Ohio typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market46

Sale-to-list97%

Sold in May129

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Dayton

D⁻

Safety Grade D-

Dayton reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 98% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Dayton 12.2

Ohio 2.9

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Dayton 39.7

Ohio 14.7

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Dayton

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 5% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Ohio

2better than OH·21worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 9 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 6▼ 4 close Habits 3▼ 1 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 5▼ 0 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.2%Fewer adults who have had cancerOH 8.7% · better 32%Fewer adults with high cholesterolOH 36.7% · better 17%More adults facing a utility shut-offOH 8.3% · worse

Care nearby

Dayton Childrens HospitalDayton · 1.7 mi · ER

Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton - Corwin Nixon Health CenterDayton · 1.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

5 hospitals · 4 health centers in Dayton →

Primary careShortage · part of Dayton

DentalShortage · part of Dayton

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Dayton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Dayton →

Natural hazards in Dayton

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 38% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

24Does Dayton flood?paid flood claims since 1979 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Dayton MapDayton vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Dayton →

Climate in Dayton

Full climate →

Dayton has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

40° / 24°Winter

63° / 42°Spring

84° / 63°Summer

66° / 45°Fall

How much snow does Dayton get?About 12 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 25, with the last in spring around Apr 18.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Dayton →

Schools in Dayton

All Dayton schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Dayton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 82% of Ohio’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Dayton’s schools compare in OH →

DistrictDayton CitySchools52

Deca Prep C-Elementary · Grades K–8 · 950 students Pathway School of Discovery C+Elementary · Grades K–8 · 843 students Emerson Academy C-Elementary · Grades K–8 · 674 students Ruskin Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 553 students Alliance Community Schools Inc. dba Dayton Leadership Acade DElementary · Grades K–8 · 552 students River's Edge Montessori Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 552 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within OH. Ratings are from neighbors.