Longtime lurker here, I'm a 27-year-old marketing manager and It's a a mid-size city city with about 137K people. With a population of 137K, Dayton is a mid-size city. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. What are your go-to spots? Cheers.
48 upvotes
27 Replies
Sarah G.
this is the way
40 upvotes
nashville_genesis
this is the way
38 upvotes
Ryan Gonzalez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 32, moved here 8 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Highland and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Homeless population growing downtown
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Highland: Great for families. improving vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: 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 Miami, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $80K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. 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
Jordan W.
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: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Midtown. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in education. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
37 upvotes
Aaliyah R.
interesting, hadn't considered that
37 upvotes
Colton W.
Public transit is challenging here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I genuinely enjoy living here.
35 upvotes
Ezra H.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Salt Lake City about 15 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Active local events and festivals
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are established, gas is challenging.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
Aaron Walker
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in Fairview area are tough. Kids love it here.
34 upvotes
Hazel Cooper
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 3 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Maple Ridge. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Alexa Castillo
We moved here with our family and it's not perfect but it works for me. Schools in The Heights area are tough. Kids love it here.
32 upvotes
Joseph
preach
32 upvotes
William
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Midtown. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in retail. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
30 upvotes
Adeline M.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
27 upvotes
Luke Carter
exactly what I was thinking
24 upvotes
Anna Sanders
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want public transit, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
24 upvotes
Colton
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a writer who relocated here from Denver about 12 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are stable, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. Feel free to reach out with questions..
21 upvotes
Nova Mendoza
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Meadowbrook. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 11 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
19 upvotes
jaxwalker2024
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
18 upvotes
Rylee Davis
Used to live on the Uptown side, now on the Oak Park side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
11 upvotes
Harper
I've been living here for 6 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The outdoor recreation is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
10 upvotes
Hailey Lee
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Meadowbrook for 10 years. Moved from Dallas for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is solid - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Meadowbrook schools are pretty good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Not a lot of cultural diversity. Limited entertainment options. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
9 upvotes
Jeremiah Cook
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from San Francisco about 15 years ago. The main reasons were weather and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Lots of new development happening
- Four distinct seasons
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
Clara Turner
I work in education here and the quality of life is solid. The job market for my field is excellent. Happy to answer more specific questions..
9 upvotes
Logan Ross
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Worth doing your research before committing.
2 upvotes
Jaxon Evans
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. healthcare used to be much wild but now it's improving.
1 upvotes
Evan R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in South. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
1 upvotes
Cooper Harris
Came here for school and stayed because I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor recreation is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
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