Uprootmap
Dayton vs Indianapolis
Dayton and Indianapolis
Photo: Miyin2 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Indianapolis are above the US rate in this release, 11.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Dayton to Indianapolis
In 2022-2023, 121 households filed a move from Dayton to Indianapolis (about 181 people, average adjusted gross income $58,058). 101 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,018 in Dayton and $1,189 in Indianapolis. Dayton has a state tax on wages. Indianapolis has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Indianapolis is 95% of the national level for the same work, against 92% in Dayton.
Indianapolis averages 186 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 20°F. Dayton is 190 sunny days, 84°F in July, 27°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Indianapolis 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, 121 households moved Dayton → Indianapolis (about 181 people, average AGI $58,058). 101 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 Indianapolis changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 126 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,100
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,100
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Indianapolis
Questions
Is Indianapolis cheaper than Dayton after tax and rent?
No. Indianapolis leaves about $227 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,018 in Dayton and $1,189 in Indianapolis.
Does Indianapolis have state income tax?
Indianapolis is in Indiana, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 2.02%.
Did people actually move from Dayton to Indianapolis?
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.