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City Housing Verdict

Dayton, TX

Manageable

Your dollar goes further in Dayton, TX — everyday costs run about 15% below the national average (Cost Index: 85). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $211,900, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $61,307 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Dayton looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 20% rent burden, 3.5x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 70. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Dayton.

Monthly Housing
$1,002/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
20%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$3,607/mo
After housing and debt · $1,202/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 29%
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Cost Index
85
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$211,900
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,002/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$61,307
National: $78,538
Population
9,121
Purchasing Power
92
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
70 / 100
30% below average
Rent Index
74 / 100
26% below average
Goods & Groceries
101 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
95 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
96 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
85
Affordable · 15% below average

Dayton Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $211,900 and Texas's property tax rate of 1.6%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$61,307
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
20%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
3.5x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Dayton looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Dayton, TX

Est. Annual Property Tax
$3,390
Monthly Impact
$283
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.60%
National avg: ~1.00%

Texas Place Tax Context

Tax TypeTexasNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.60%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales Tax8.19%~5.0%

Compare Dayton to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Dayton, TX
85
74
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Dayton, TX: 70
Rent Prices
74

FAQ: Living in Dayton

Is Dayton, TX an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Dayton run about 15% below the US average (Cost Index: 85). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $211,900, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $1,002, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Dayton fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,002, while local median household income is $61,307. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 20% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Dayton, TX?+

Texas is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 1.6%. On a home worth $211,900, that translates to roughly $3,390 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 8.19% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Dayton, TX?+

The typical monthly rent in Dayton is around $1,002. That's roughly 26% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $211,900, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Dayton, TX?+

The median home in Dayton is valued at $211,900. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,071/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 65% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Dayton?+

Grocery prices in Dayton are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 101, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 95). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Dayton, TX like to live in?+

Dayton is a small town with a population of about 9,121. The median age of residents is 32, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 18.83%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Texas

If Dayton feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Texas

Use these city pages when you want to compare Dayton against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly