Not sure if this has been asked before, but I'm a remote worker and Crime rate is something to consider — Dayton sits at 962.1 per 100K. It's a a mid-size city city with about 137K people. Average temperature is around 55°F, so expect cold winters. Median household income is $43,454, which feels on the lower side for the area. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The suburbs are where most families end up. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. What do you all think? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
3 upvotes
29 Replies
Genesis Bennett
not my experience at all
40 upvotes
Claire Clark
Used to live on the Westside side, now on the Maple Ridge side. Completely different vibe. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad.
40 upvotes
Theresa N.
hmm interesting perspective
39 upvotes
Grayson Cooper
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I genuinely enjoy living here. Internet is underrated in most areas.
38 upvotes
Jordan Ross
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a marketing manager, 51, moved here 10 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The healthcare situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for young professionals. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Portland, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
38 upvotes
Emma Johnson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in government. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
36 upvotes
Miles Davis
thanks for sharing
35 upvotes
Savannah M.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is pet-friendliness. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
35 upvotes
Rylee Bailey
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it exceeded my expectations. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
34 upvotes
Caroline
bump
33 upvotes
James Thomas
Bought a house here in 2022 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
31 upvotes
Nevaeh H.
bump
31 upvotes
Carter P.
I'm a physical therapist and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. The community is underrated and there's always something going on.
29 upvotes
John R.
We moved here with our family and it exceeded my expectations. Schools in East area are improving. Kids love it here.
29 upvotes
Silas Stewart
My experience has been mostly positive. it's been a really good experience overall. The only thing I'd watch out for is cultural scene. Other than that, Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Brielle Ward
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much wild but now it's solid.
22 upvotes
Katherine Richardson
facts
22 upvotes
Grace Martinez
I've lived in Highland for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. When I first moved here from Pittsburgh, I was surprised by traffic. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Strong sense of community
- The community vibe scene is hit or miss
The downsides:
- Property taxes are high
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for young professionals. Happy to answer more specific questions..
21 upvotes
Harper Collins
I've been living here for 5 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The cultural scene is hit or miss compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
17 upvotes
Dylan Garcia
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Charlotte about 15 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are affordable, gas is excellent.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Feel free to reach out with questions..
16 upvotes
Anna Rodriguez
I'm a nurse and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
12 upvotes
real_hailey24
I've lived in Old Town for about 6 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Lots of new development happening
- Affordable housing options
- The cost of living scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for couples. Feel free to reach out with questions..
10 upvotes
Wesley H.
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Mediterranean places. it exceeded my expectations.
8 upvotes
Logan Reyes
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
8 upvotes
Daniel Harris
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much manageable but now it's challenging.
6 upvotes
Lily Bennett
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The job market is honestly challenging and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
3 upvotes
Alice H.
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 7 years here, that's my honest assessment.
3 upvotes
Wesley Davis
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 40, moved here 2 years ago from Pittsburgh. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Growing food and restaurant scene
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Road conditions need improvement
2. Limited shopping options
3. The dating scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for retirees. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Pittsburgh, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $90K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
2 upvotes
Skylar Cruz
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is tough in most areas.
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