Thinking About Moving to Dayton?
Affordable, accessible, and full of opportunity
—here’s a taste of what life looks like in The Gem City.
Why People Move Here
- Affordable housing and lower cost of living
- Strong job market anchored by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB)
- Easy commuting and central Midwest location
- Wide range of suburban lifestyles
- Access to parks, culture, and year-round activities
Cost of Living & Housing Snapshot
Dayton is one of the most affordable metro areas in the Midwest—especially for buyers relocating from higher-cost markets.
Housing OVERVIEW
~
$190K
Median Home Price
(2025 Estimate)
$900–$1,200
Median
Rent
15–20% lower
Cost of Living vs.
National Average
Mod Rate
Property
Taxes
What Your Budget Can Buy
$200K-
$250K
Updated Home or
Newer Townhomes
$300K-
$400K
Larger Homes in
Top Suburbs
$500K
and Up
New Builds, Luxury,
or Custom Homes
Dayton Area Communities & Suburbs
Beavercreek
Family-friendly with top schools and close to WPAFB
Centerville
Historic charm, walkable areas, and a wide range of housing options.
Kettering
Established neighborhoods with great amenities
Oakwood
Highly sought-after with strong community feel
Springboro
Consistently ranked among Ohio’s best places to live
Yellow Springs
Creative, walkable, and full of personality
schools, jobs, and opportunities
Dayton offers strong education options and a stable, diverse job market.
Major Employers
- Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
- Premier Health
- Kettering Health Network
- University of Dayton
- Wright State University
- GE Aerospace and regional suppliers
Resources
Growth in healthcare, defense, and advanced manufacturing in the Greater Miami Valley continues to drive the local economy.
Life Style and Things to do
Dayton combines urban culture with easy access to outdoor recreation.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Five Rivers MetroParks
- Great Miami Riverway Trails
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Carillon Historical Park
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
- Schuster Performing Arts Center
- Victoria Theatre
- Dayton Art Institute
- Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Sports & Local Favorites
- Dayton Dragons (Minor League Baseball)
- University of Dayton Flyers
- 2nd Street Market
- Oregon District dining and nightlife
- The Greene Town Center
Transportation and commuting
Dayton's layout makes commuting simple and predictable. Most suburbs are 15-30 minutes from major employment centers.
~20
Minutes
Average
Commute
I-70, I-75,
US-35
Accessible
Highways
Greater Dayton RTA
Public
Transit
Pro's and Con's of living in Dayton
Pros
- Very affordable cost of living
- Strong, stable job market
- Short commute times
- Diverse suburban communities
- Growing arts and culinary scene
Cons
- Cold, grey winters
- Limited public transit compared to large metros
- Some urban revitalization is still in progress
Ready to Relocate to Dayton?
Coldwell Banker Heritage’s Relocation Department supports individuals, families, military personnel and corporate clients moving to the Dayton area.
JOIN COLDWELL BANKER HERITAGE
© 2026 Coldwell Banker HERITAGE, HERITAGE HOME SERVICES LLC
© 2026 Dayton Area Board of Realtors. All rights reserved. Information deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes from Dayton Area Board of Realtors and the Broker Reciprocity Program. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Dayton Ohio MLS (DTON) - 48 - OH are marked with the BR logo and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers. Listing broker has attempted to offer accurate data, but buyers are advised to confirm all items.
MLS Internet Data Exchange (IDX) information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing, and that the data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the Richmond MLS of the Indiana Board of REALTORS®.
MLS Internet Data Exchange (IDX) information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing, and that the data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the West Ohio Board of REALTORS®. The information is being provided by CincyMLS. Information deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than the identification of potential properties for purchase. Copyright 2026 CincyMLS. All Rights Reserved.
© 2026 Coldwell Banker Heritage - (937) 429-4500.
Equal housing opportunity. An equal opportunity company.
4060 Executive Dr, Dayton, Ohio 45430
Phone: (937) 429-4500
Licensed Real Estate Broker
State of Ohio
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