Dreams soar in Dayton. As the home of aviation and the seat of Montgomery County, the Ohio community combines excellent education and career life together, making it a great place to both school and work. As for play, the province is filled with a plethora of recreational activities for residents of all ages.
If you have ever thought about moving to the Midwest, take some time to read about Dayton to see if the destination is what you and your family may be looking for in the near or even distant future.
Dayton Climate
The humid subtropical climate of Dayton brings in hot muggy summers. June, July and August average a high of 84 degrees and a low of 60 degrees, with approximately 12 inches of rain falling in the summer season. Fall is a bit more comfortable with temperatures dropping down in September, October and November to a high of 75 degrees and a low of 34 degrees.
Winter is frigid in the region from December, January and February, averaging a high of 38 degrees and a low of 20 degrees. Locals see an average of 25-inches of snow a season. Spring begins to warm things up in March, April and May with temperatures averaging a high of 71 degrees and a low of 31 degrees. The spring season sometimes brings tornadoes to the area and floods, blizzards and severe thunderstorms occur from time to time.
Dayton Neighborhoods
Ten historic districts and Downtown Dayton divide the 55 square-mile sector. Oregon District, Wright Dunbar, Dayton View, Grafton Hill, McPherson Town, Webster Station, Huffman, Kenilworth, St. Anne's Hill and South Park are the most notable neighborhoods. The Oregon Historic District is a mix of both commercial and residential buildings with art galleries, coffee houses and pubs lining the streets that feature Federal, Queen Ann and Greek Revival architecture.
Twenty four blocks and 700 structures make up South Park, a popular part of town with homes as old as 1880. With little to no commercial property in the area, the streets feature Second Empire and Romanesque Revival architecture.
Downtown Dayton, the central business district, is a mix of commercial and residential properties. With 20,000 residents living in the city center and the University of Dayton downtown, a mix of young students and older professionals create a diverse atmosphere. Some suburbs scattered around Dayton include Centerville, Englewood, Vandalia and Xenia.
Registering Your Car
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is one of the first places you would visit if you were thinking about relocating to the area. According to the bureau, you must maintain a state license once you accept a job, enroll your children in the local education system, register to vote, or buy or rent a residence. To obtain a new license you must pay a $23 fee and prove your full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, U.S. residency and new Ohio address. To receive a new registration and plates, you must provide the bureau with a proof of title and have your car inspected. Fees for a new registration and license plates depend on which taxing district you live in and can range anywhere from $35 to $100.
Dayton Schools
Schools are scattered all throughout the sector, with a plethora of private, public and post-secondary sites available for students to attend. Spring Valley Academy and Archbishop Alter High School are just two campuses that offer specialized and religious training with many others accessible in the area. Dayton Public Schools has a total of 30 sites, with 22 elementary, 6 high schools and 2 special centers that serve more than 14,500 students.
Premier post-secondary schools in the sector include Ohio's largest private campus, The University of Dayton. Founded in 1850, the institution has a diverse student population with 12,000 undergraduate and post-graduate students representing up to 40 different countries. Wright State University is open to all secular students who are interested in public education. The school became a state university in 1967 and has a present enrollment of approximately 18,000 students. Dayton is home to one of the largest community campuses in the nation, with Sinclair Community College touting top of the line education in Ohio. Founded in 1887 by the YMCA, the school now serves more than 25,000 at its two-year site.
Dayton Employment
If you just graduated college and are looking for a job, Dayton just may be your destination. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the Ohio community ranked as one of the best places in the United States for graduates to procure employment. As the home of aviation, recent graduates and long-time residents have soaring careers in aerospace and aviation.
Though the unemployment rate ranked a little high at 9 percent in March 2013, healthcare proves to be a hot industry with Premier Health Partners as the peak employer in town, staffing more than 14,000 workers. Government and education are popular in the province with Montgomery County as the second largest employer and Sinclair Community College as the third. Other top employers in the area are the City of Dayton, Dayton Children's Medical Center and Grandview Hospital.
If you are business owner, the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, is a great connection to make with multiple member benefits available to merchants. And if you are not a business owner and are looking for a job, the local chamber would be a great place to drop off your resume since you never know when you will be in the right place at the right time. When looking for a job also search out area staffing agencies and the local classified section of the Dayton Daily News.
Living Costs in the City
With an extremely low cost of living, 0.5 percent less than the Ohio average and 6.9 percent less than the national average, Dayton is a desirable location to live as far as finances are concerned. The median home price in Dayton comes in at $50,000 and the median family income falls a little under $40,000. The cost of housing, food, taxes, healthcare, childcare, transportation and necessities for two parents and one child averages around $3,000 monthly and $40,000 annually. Of course the larger the family, the higher the cost with a two parent and three children household costing approximately $5,000 monthly and a little under $70,000 annually.
Dayton Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Dayton, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Ohio. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Dayton Transportation
The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority is the way to get around if you choose to use public transportation. With 29 bus routes in the area and 50 token sales outlets, there is never a reason to be late in the region. The agency also has 54 trolley buses that travel in town, making it even more convenient for locals to get from point A to point B.
Interstates 75 and 70 are the most traveled roadways, with residents commuting to and from work on the routes. Route 4 and 444 are also popular in the province with many traveling along the two roadways. As for flying, the Dayton International Airport is the most popular landing strip; however, the region also has the Dayton Wright Brothers Airport and the Dahio Trotwood Airport to fly in and out of.
Culture & Contemporary Life
The sky's the limit in the locale that is the birthplace of aviation. With so much to do in Dayton, visitors and residents alike constantly stay amused. One of the most notable places to visit is the National Museum of the United States Air Force, where the National Aviation Hall of Fame is located. Locals take pride in the province's important part of aviation and support the local museums all year through.
When feeling a little more formal and want to dress to see a show, locals love to frequent the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center or the Dayton Art Institute. For a more causal time, residents visit the many metro parks in the area with Five Rivers Outdoors as one of the most popular spots. Kayaking, rock climbing and fly-fishing are just a few of activities locals enjoy at the outdoor wonderland.
With dozens upon dozens of restaurants, dining in Dayton is one recreation residents enjoy most. Seafood, Indian and Italian are just a few types of cuisine in found in the community. The same diversity in dining goes for shopping centers as well, with hundreds of specialty shops and large scale retail stores scattered all throughout the region.
Dayton Relocation Tips
- Talk about your move. Communication is key in life, especially when it comes time to moving. Sit with friends, family and your employer and discuss why you are relocating and how you would love to keep in touch.
- Find an auto shipper to transport your vehicle so you have one less task to on among your many other moving chores. Not only will it save you time to have your car transported, it will save mileage on your vehicle.
- Knock on your neighbor's door and introduce yourself. Forming a healthy relationship with your neighbors will not only make life a bit brighter, it can bring unexpected joy as you find they just may be the best friends of your life.