City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Dayton, WA

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.

2,695
Residents
$71,687
Median income
$223,900
Median home
$1,052
Median rent (state)

Dayton - the verdict

Nationally, Dayton sits in the 52nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

52nd
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
25th
percentile, median rent
📝 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, WA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,695 residents in Dayton, a small town within Washington. The typical household in Dayton brings in $71,687 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.3%. Dayton's housing stock carries a median value of $223,900, and the median resident age is 51.3 years. About 22.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 2 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 100% from five years earlier. NOAA puts Dayton's yearly average temperature at 51.1°F with 18.8 inches of precipitation per year and 15.8 inches of snowfall.

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,052 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Washington run around $188, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 8.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

2,695 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$71,687 /yr

Poverty 6.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Dayton compare to other US cities?

Where Dayton sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 52% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Dayton's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Washington, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

52ndIncome percentile

52nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Dayton's home value compares nationally

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

$223,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $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, WA Dayton, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dayton, WA-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, WA median $71,687/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, WA'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, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.5%

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

Population
2,695
Median Income
$71,687
Median Home Value
$223,900
Median Age
51.3
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Labor force participation
51.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.1°F
Annual Precipitation
18.8"
Annual Snowfall
15.8"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,400 residents2,450 residents2,500 residents2,550 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,449 residents 2,538 residents ▲ +3.6%
Dayton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 4
2021 40
2022 5
2023 1
2024 2

Permit volume increased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.7%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.7%
Walk
6.2%
Work from Home
4.2%
Other
4.5%

Based on 1,132 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington 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 Washington 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
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,052/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
8.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Friday Harbor
2,685 people
Fobes Hill
2,683 people
Leavenworth
2,676 people
Peaceful Valley
2,661 people
Allyn
2,656 people
Big Lake
2,648 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dayton's 2,695 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Homer, LA
2,694 people
Cajah's Mountain, NC
2,696 people
Kennedy, CA
2,697 people
West Bishop, CA
2,697 people
Chatfield, MN
2,693 people
Whitehall, NY
2,693 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dayton's $71,687 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Eagle Lake, TX
$71,684 median income
Jacona, NM
$71,691 median income
Foster, OK
$71,683 median income
Hobart, IN
$71,680 median income
Golden Grove, SC
$71,694 median income
Brushy, OK
$71,696 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dayton, WA 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, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.3% 17.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.5% White 76.3% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.4% Two or more races 17.8% 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 Washington 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) 2,695 $71,687
Friday Harbor 2,685 $69,954
Fobes Hill 2,683 $132,250
Leavenworth 2,676 $74,653
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dayton, WA?

What is the population of Dayton, WA? +

2,695 people live in Dayton, WA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Dayton households earn a median of $71,687 annually, 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 Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

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

A typical home in Dayton is worth $223,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Dayton? +

The average annual temperature in Dayton runs 51.1°F, 18.8 inches of precipitation, and 15.8 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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 Editorial

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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.