What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Dayton, OH?

Paige Hanawalt
by Paige Hanawalt

Ohio often gets forgotten about, but it actually has contributed a lot to the economic welfare of the United States. Located in the Midwest, Ohio is one of the more urban Midwest states with three major cities. These cities include Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland; with Columbus being the largest city in Ohio. Located just an hour and a half away from Columbus is Dayton, Ohio.

Dayton is considered one of the best places to live in Ohio. The pros of living in Dayton include affordable living, historical sites, an active community, increasing job opportunities, and an incredible beer and bar scene. The cons to living in Dayton include the cold weather, city taxes, and a higher poverty rate resulting in a higher crime rate.

Dayton is also widely known for its historical innovations in aviation. Would you have guessed that the Wright Brothers performed their first flight in Dayton, Ohio? They certainly did, and you can take a tour at the Wright Brothers Museum there.

The city is located equally in distance away from Columbus and Cincinnati. This makes it a great location for activities and entertainment. You can find a lot to do in Dayton and even more in these two major cities.

If you are looking to move soon, or are taking a trip to Dayton, keep reading on to learn about the pros and cons of Dayton, Ohio.

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What Are The Pros Of Living In Dayton?

Dayton is a great place to travel for those interested in rich culture, historical areas, incredible food and an abundance of recreational activities. Nicknamed the “Gem City,” Dayton is easy to travel to and a great place to raise a family.

Most Inventive Beers Around

Warped Wing Brewing Company has followed Dayton’s tradition of innovation by creating rich and flavorful beer. The brewery is located in an old converted historical site in downtown Dayton.

At the Warped Wing Brewing Company, you will find a variety of Pale Ale’s, each having their own flavor and taste. While you taste the different Ale’s, you can tour the brewery and experience the art of crafting beer.

Their brews are local favorites and a hot tourist item. The Warped Wing Brewery is considered a must-try in Dayton.

What Are The Unique Beers To Try In Dayton

The brewery offers a mix of seasonal flavors, limited editions, and core flavors. Some of the core flavors of beer are listed below.

  • Trotwood Lager
  • Hydro Haze – Pale Ale
  • Gamme Bomb – Pale Ale
  • Flyer Red – American Lager
  • Ermals – Belgium Cream Ale

These are just the core drinks offered at Warped Wing Brewery. There are many more options of seasonal and limited edition drinks to choose from.

Most Affordable Place To Live

Cost of living is an important factor when choosing a place to live. Knowing what to expect when it comes to costs can make or break an area.

With Dayton, Ohio you don’t have to stress with high costs. This city is one of the most affordable places to live in the whole state. The average home cost in Dayton is under $100k, and the median mortgage is $995. Cost of living is low and very affordable, making it one of the best places to live in Ohio for young professionals and families.

Fantastic Job Market

Dayton, Ohio has a booming industry for healthcare workers. With new medical care facilities popping up all around Dayton, there has been a high demand for health care workers, especially nurses. Not only does Dayton have a large Healthcare industry, but it also has a very large manufacturing industry.

Dayton’s manufacturing industry employs over 700,000 individuals and continues to bring in more people to work. Creative entrepreneurs, college graduates, and young professionals continue to make their way into Dayton to start their career. The job market thrives in Dayton and offers many opportunities for growth.

Many Historical Centers

As mentioned previously, Dayton is known for its aviation historical sites. This includes the Air Force Museum and the Aviation Nation Historic Park.

The reason aviation is such a big part of Dayton is that this is where the famous Wright Brothers took flight on their first flights on the Wright Flyer III and Wright B Flyer. After this, Congress named Dayton the “Birthplace of Aviation”.

Historical Aviation Museums In Dayton, OH

There are 15 museums and memorials to visit if you want to learn about the history of the Air Force, the Wright Brothers and the aviation industry in Dayton, Ohio. Here is a list of just some of them:

  • The Air Force Museum
  • Wright Brothers Memorial
  • National Aviation Hall of Fame
  • Vectren Dayton Air Show
  • Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park
  • National Museum of the Air Force

Hidden Gems Located All Around

All around the city’s historical centers, you will find little hidden treasures. You can find a flying saucer in the National Museum of the Air Force and the unique headstone of Johnny Moorehouse.

There are many other fun finds like this in Dayton. The city has earned the nickname “Gem City” because when it was discovered the city was hidden behind the Miami River. Making Dayton literally and figuratively a hidden gem in this region.

Find out if Columbus, Ohio is a good place to live.

The Hidden Gem Attractions You Must Visit

There are a few attractions labeled “hidden gems” that are a must-visit.

  • The Wright Cycle Company Complex
  • Carriage Hill Metro Park
  • Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum
  • America’s Packard Museum

Hidden Gem Restaurants To Not Miss

These are some hidden gem restaurants that are tucked away and not easily noticed. You won’t want to miss them.

  • Salar Restaurant and Lounge – Peruvian
  • Amber Rose Restaurant – European
  • The Trolley Stop – American
  • Bar Granada – Mexican
  • Buckhorn Tavern – Steakhouse
  • Christopher’s Restaurant – Vegan/Vegetarian

Active Community

In Dayton there is a section called the Miami Valley Region. This is where you can find a paved trail network reaching up to 340 miles. The Miami Valley Region has been a nature lover’s dream for years! This trail wraps through forests, the city, and water. You will find plenty of water activities and beautiful nature trails along this network.

Dayton offers some of the best outdoor recreational activities. The community stays active because of it. This city will offer you just what you are looking for if you are an outdoor fanatic.

What Are The Cons To Living In Dayton?

With any positive there comes a negative. It is important to know the downsides of where you are planning to live. Every area has its own flaws to be aware of and understanding what these flaws help you make a better decision as to whether Dayton is right for you.

Cold Weather

In Dayton you see a lot more cloud cover than most states. This means that the colder months get even chillier. Usually during colder weather sunlight helps relieve some of that crisp cool air, it can make it a bit more tolerable.

In Dayton the colder months are crisp, windy, and mostly overcast. Dayton isn’t known for getting too warm during the summer months either. Temperatures rarely exceed 85 degrees and in the winter months they easily drop below freezing.

If you are looking for warmer temperatures, June through September will be the months to look forward to.

City And State Taxes

Ohio has a flat tax rate of 5.75% across the state. This gets added to any and all purchases made within Ohio. Dayton has an additional county tax rate of 1.75%. This means that everything you purchase in Dayton, OH will be taxed 7.5%.

This is higher than average for states across the U.S. Many states have no state or county tax and many that do have them have rates of 5% or lower.

High Crime And Poverty Rate

You’ll be surprised to learn that even though Dayton has an affordable cost of living, it still has a 27% poverty rate. This is significantly higher than the average poverty rate of 13%.

Due to the higher poverty rate, this, unfortunately, leads to a higher than average crime rate as well. This may be concerning to you, but you’ll need to look at the data and decide for yourself.

The majority of crime is property-related rather than violent crimes. The property crime rate is 70.6 which is nearly double the national average. This doesn’t mean that violent crimes don’t occur in this area, it just means that the majority are property-related.

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Summing It Up

Dayton is a beautiful city filled with great entertainment, food, historical centers, low cost of living and many recreational activities. This active community has a thriving job market perfect for college graduates or young families.

Unfortunately, Dayton also has a higher than average rate when it comes to poverty and crime. This causes much concern to those looking to move into the area.

Even though Dayton has more than an affordable cost of living, the taxes in Ohio and Dayton County end up being higher than most other states in the U.S. It isn’t too significant of a difference considering the other low costs but still noticeable.

Check out Dayton for yourself and see if this city offers what you need for a comfortable lifestyle.

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Paige Hanawalt
Paige Hanawalt

Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.

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