City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Dayton, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Dayton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

5,703
Residents
$62,500
Median income
$144,100
Median home
$1,353
Median rent (state)

Dayton - the verdict

Nationally, Dayton sits in the 39th percentile for household income and the 65th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

39th
percentile, household income
25th
percentile, home value
50th
percentile, median rent
65th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Dayton, KY

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 5,703 residents in Dayton, a small town within Kentucky. Dayton households earn a median of $62,500 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 19.9%. Typical homes in Dayton are valued around $144,100, and the median resident age is 39.2 years. About 24.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Dayton reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 977.2 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Kentucky at 90.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,353 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kentucky's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Commute times here average 18.6 minutes, with 67.7% driving alone and 10.8% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 58.3 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

5,703 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$62,500 /yr

Poverty 19.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Dayton compare to other US cities?

Dayton measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 39% higher than other cities
Home value 25% pricier than other cities
Median rent 50% pricier than other cities
Safety 65% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Kentucky, Dayton ranks #108 of 181 Kentucky cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Dayton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Dayton's strongest outlier among Kentucky cities

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Dayton ranks #1 - the 90th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dayton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#194 of 485
60th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 520
90th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#246 of 484
49th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#147 of 519
72nd percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#194 of 520
62nd percentile in Kentucky

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

39thIncome percentile
65thSafety percentile

39th percentile nationally for median household income · 65th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Dayton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Dayton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 56 Avg. percentile National median
Dayton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Dayton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$144,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 75% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Dayton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Dayton, KY Dayton, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dayton, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Dayton, KY median $62,500/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Dayton, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Dayton, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
5,703
Median Income
$62,500
Median Home Value
$144,100
Median Age
39.2
Poverty Rate
19.9%
Labor force participation
60.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
977.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
240.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
737.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,600 residents5,700 residents5,800 residents5,900 residents6,000 residents6,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,671 residents 5,974 residents ▲ +5.3%
Dayton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.6 minutes
Drive Alone
67.7%
Carpool
13.0%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
5.8%
Work from Home
10.8%
Other
1.6%

Based on 2,714 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Dayton sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,353/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
58.3 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Central City
5,736 people
Monticello
5,741 people
Bellevue
5,598 people
Fort Wright
5,882 people
Walton
5,513 people
Douglass Hills
5,437 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dayton's 5,703 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Poolesville, MD
5,704 people
Glencoe, MN
5,702 people
Winslow, ME
5,701 people
Holtville, AL
5,700 people
Waynesboro, GA
5,700 people
McKenzie, TN
5,706 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dayton's $62,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Industry, CA
$62,500 median income
Buncombe, IL
$62,500 median income
Colchester, IL
$62,500 median income
Shipman, IL
$62,500 median income
Billtown, IN
$62,500 median income
Boonville, IN
$62,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dayton, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Dayton, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.3% 6.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% White 90.3% Black or African American 1.4% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 6.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Dayton compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Dayton (this city) 5,703 $62,500
Central City 5,736 $49,025
Monticello 5,741 $37,733
Bellevue 5,598 $67,143
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dayton, KY?

What is the population of Dayton, KY? +

5,703 people live in Dayton, KY according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dayton, KY? +

The median household income in Dayton is $62,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dayton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Dayton; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

Is Dayton, KY safe? +

Dayton has a total crime rate of 977.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Dayton, KY? +

Dayton's median home value sits at $144,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.