Uprootmap
Dayton vs Cleveland
Dayton and Cleveland
Photo: Erik Drost / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Cleveland are above the US rate in this release, 11.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Dayton to Cleveland
In 2022-2023, 168 households filed a move from Dayton to Cleveland (about 239 people, average adjusted gross income $68,607). 133 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,018 in Dayton and $1,065 in Cleveland. Dayton has a state tax on wages. Cleveland has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Cleveland is 95% of the national level for the same work, against 92% in Dayton.
Cleveland averages 166 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 21°F. Dayton is 190 sunny days, 84°F in July, 27°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Cleveland and 22 in Dayton.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 168 households moved Dayton → Cleveland (about 239 people, average AGI $68,607). 133 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Dayton and Cleveland changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 228 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,350
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
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Dig into Cleveland
Questions
Is Cleveland cheaper than Dayton after tax and rent?
No. Cleveland leaves about $19 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,018 in Dayton and $1,065 in Cleveland.
Does Cleveland have state income tax?
Cleveland is in Ohio, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 2.50%.
Did people actually move from Dayton to Cleveland?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.