Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Toledo compared to Dayton? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Toledo | Metric | Dayton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | Cost of Living Index | 83 | +3.8% |
| $145,000 | Median Home Price | $170,000 | +17.2% |
| $733 | Median Monthly Rent | $875 | +19.4% |
| $48,400 | Median Household Income | $54,600 | +12.8% |
| 1.6% | Property Tax Rate | 1.6% | +0.0% |
| 5.8% | Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | -19.0% |
| 21 min | Average Commute | 22 min | +4.8% |
| 36.8 | Median Age | 36.4 | -1.1% |
| 620,000 | Metro Population | 820,000 | +32.3% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Toledo costs $969/month (PITI) compared to $1,136/month in Dayton — a difference of $167/month or $2,004/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.0x in Toledo versus 3.1x in Dayton, suggesting Toledo is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 4.0 years to save a down payment in Toledo compared to 4.2 years in Dayton.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Toledo | Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $48,400 | $54,600 |
| State Income Tax | $549 | $719 |
| Federal Income Tax | $3,679 | $4,423 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $3,703 | $4,177 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $2,320/yr | $2,720/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.8% | 5.8% |
| Total Tax Burden | $7,931 (16.4%) | $9,319 (17.1%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $40,469 | $45,281 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $7,931 in Toledo (16.4% effective) versus $9,319 in Dayton (17.1% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $40,469 in Toledo and $45,281 in Dayton. Property taxes add $2,320/year on the median Toledo home versus $2,720/year in Dayton.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $48,400 in Toledo (COL 80) and relocate to Dayton (COL 83), you would need $50,215 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $1,815 to maintain the same standard of living in Dayton.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Toledo is 21 minutes versus 22 minutes in Dayton, a difference of 1 minutes each way. Dayton's lower unemployment rate of 4.7% versus 5.8% suggests a stronger job market. Toledo skews slightly older with a median age of 36.8 vs 36.4 in Dayton.
Dayton is 3.8% more expensive than Toledo overall. Dayton has a cost of living index of 83 compared to 80 for Toledo (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $170,000 in Dayton vs $145,000 in Toledo.
The median home price in Dayton is $170,000, which is $25,000 more than Toledo's median of $145,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $875/month in Dayton vs $733/month in Toledo, a difference of $142/month or $1,704/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $48,400 salary in Toledo is equivalent to $50,215 in Dayton. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Toledo's COL index of 80 vs Dayton's 83. Conversely, $54,600 in Dayton equals $52,627 in Toledo.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $7,931 (16.4% effective rate) in Toledo vs $9,319 (17.1% effective rate) in Dayton. Property taxes on the median home are $2,320/year in Toledo (1.6% rate) vs $2,720/year in Dayton (1.6% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.8% in Ohio and 5.8% in Ohio.
Toledo median household income: $48,400/yr. Dayton median household income: $54,600/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $733 in Toledo vs $875 in Dayton. Annualized that is $8,796 vs $10,500.
Toledo offers a lower cost of living (index 80 vs 83), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Dayton typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Toledo and Dayton numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Toledo vs Dayton cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .