Dayton, NJ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Dayton, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Dayton research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Dayton is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Dayton is 139, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Dayton is 1.4x higher than the national average.

  • Dayton ranks as the #166 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.

  • Dayton ranks as the #5,366 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Dayton is $666,266.

  • The median income in Dayton is $141,308.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
139
Dayton's Overall Cost Of Living
1.4x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Dayton, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dayton has an overall cost of living index of 139, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, Dayton has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 122.

The standard of living in Dayton ranks as #166 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Dayton ranks as the #94 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Dayton, check out:

166 out of 260
In New Jersey
5,366 out of 6,489
In America

Dayton Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dayton. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Dayton is 113.

  • The Groceries index in Dayton is 105.

  • The Health index in Dayton is 103.

  • The Housing index in Dayton is 207.

  • The Transportation index in Dayton is 106.

  • The Utilities index in Dayton is 109.

Living Expense Dayton New Jersey National Average
Overall 139 122 100
Services 113 108 100
Groceries 105 104 100
Health 103 99 100
Housing 207 159 100
Transportation 106 101 100
Utilities 109 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Dayton Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Dayton, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Dayton is $666,266.

  • The Median Rent in Dayton is $1,969.

  • The Median Income in Dayton is $141,308.

  • The Home Value To Income in Dayton is 4.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Dayton is 0.17x.

Statistic Dayton New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $666,266 $564,432 $303,400
Median Rent $1,969 $1,653 $1,348
Median Income $141,308 $101,050 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.7x 5.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.2x 0.21x
$666,266
Median Home Value
$1,969
Median Rent
$141,308
Median Income

Dayton, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Dayton Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Dayton New Jersey
Shampoo $1.53 $1.28
Movie $14.53 $12.13
Bowling $20.98 $18
Haircut $30.25 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.0 $45.56

Detailed Dayton Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Dayton New Jersey
Ground Beef $6.13 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.7 $4.67
Potatoes $5.32 $4.93
Pizza $12.59 $12.09
Beer $11.12 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.75 $3.7

Detailed Dayton Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Dayton New Jersey
Optometrist $129.93 $125.68
Doctor $124.1 $135.78
Dentist $129.94 $113.29

Detailed Dayton Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Dayton New Jersey
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $72.38 $59.92

Detailed Dayton Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Dayton New Jersey
All Electricity $223.08 $193.99
Phone $186.61 $192.25

Dayton SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
8
Diversity
9.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
9.5
Commute
3

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dayton

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dayton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Colonia, NJ has a cost of living index of 131, 0.9x Dayton.

  • Princeton Meadows, NJ has a cost of living index of 153, 1.1x Dayton.

  • Middlesex, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 0.9x Dayton.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Dayton
Colonia, NJ 18,294 131 0.9x
Princeton Meadows, NJ 15,382 153 1.1x
Middlesex, NJ 14,518 126 0.9x
Bradley Gardens, NJ 14,315 150 1.1x
Mercerville, NJ 13,693 118 0.8x
Franklin Park, NJ 13,327 125 0.9x
Martinsville, NJ 12,016 159 1.1x
Hamilton Square, NJ 11,643 125 0.9x
Kendall Park, NJ 10,765 142 1.0x
White Horse, NJ 10,040 115 0.8x

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