Dayton vs Topeka
The short version
- Topeka is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Dayton area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $100,600 in Dayton and $144,200 in Topeka.
- Households earn more in Topeka ($56,956 vs $45,247 median).
- Topeka has more scorching days: 50 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 16.
- Commutes are shorter in Topeka (17 vs 20 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Dayton, OH | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 136,688 | 125,795 |
| Growth since 2020 | -0.7% | -0.6% |
| People per square mile | 2,449 | 2,032 |
| Median age | 34.1 | 38.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22% | 29% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $45,247 | $56,956 |
| Median home value | $100,600 | $144,200 |
| Home value to income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $918 | $979 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 92.7 | 88.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 72.7 | 65.0 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $69,500 | $66,600 |
| Homeowners | 48% | 59% |
| Top state income tax | 2.75% | 5.58% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.29% | 8.71% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 20.3 | 16.7 |
| Work from home | 10% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 3% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 9% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 26.9% | 15.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 37° / 22° | 40° / 20° |
| July high / low | 86° / 66° | 90° / 69° |
| Precipitation per year | 41 in | 37 in |
| Snowfall per year | 25 in | 17 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 16 | 50 |
| Nights below freezing | 110 | 114 |
| Comfortable months | 6 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 92.7 | 88.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | n/a | 64% |
| Home prices, past year | +5.3% | +5.6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +49.7% | +47.6% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Dayton: April and June to October. Topeka: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Dayton weather by month and Topeka weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $69,500 in Dayton and $66,600 in Topeka. Moving from Dayton to Topeka, you would need about $71,900 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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