Cicero IL vs Dayton OH — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Cicero, IL

Illinois · Population: 26,938

  • Median HH Income$57,479
  • Median Home Price$268,119
  • Unemployment12.7%
  • Bachelor's+20.2%

Dayton, OH

Ohio · Population: 136,741

  • Median HH Income$43,454
  • Median Home Price$138,867
  • Unemployment9.7%
  • Bachelor's+20.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cicero
26,938
Dayton
136,741
Dayton +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cicero
N/A
Dayton
N/A
Median Age
Cicero
35.6
Dayton
34.2
Dayton +
Foreign Born
Cicero
15.7%
Cicero +
Dayton
5.0%
White
Cicero
26.6%
Dayton
51.3%
Dayton +
Black
Cicero
40.3%
Cicero +
Dayton
38.0%
Asian
Cicero
0.2%
Dayton
1.2%
Dayton +
Hispanic
Cicero
37.2%
Cicero +
Dayton
5.5%
Spanish at Home
Cicero
N/A
Dayton
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cicero
$57,479
Cicero +
Dayton
$43,454
Per Capita Income
Cicero
$25,488
Dayton
$26,381
Dayton +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cicero
$68,110
Cicero +
Dayton
$58,300
Unemployment Rate
Cicero
12.7%
Dayton
9.7%
Dayton +
Poverty Rate
Cicero
24.7%
Cicero +
Dayton
27.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
Cicero
20.2%
Dayton
20.7%
Dayton +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cicero
$268,119
Dayton
$138,867
Dayton +
Homeownership Rate
Cicero
63.2%
Cicero +
Dayton
48.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cicero
344
Dayton
319
Dayton +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cicero
1842
Cicero +
Dayton
1866

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cicero
35.5%
Cicero +
Dayton
42.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cicero
13.5%
Cicero +
Dayton
17.6%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cicero
16.5%
Cicero +
Dayton
21.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cicero
29.7%
Dayton
11.2%
Dayton +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cicero
19.0%
Dayton
14.6%
Dayton +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cicero
12.8%
Cicero +
Dayton
20.5%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cicero
N/A
Dayton
54.1°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cicero
N/A
Dayton
40.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cicero
9.4 µg/m³
Cicero +
Dayton
10.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cicero
55.0%
Dayton
55.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cicero
33.7 min
Dayton
22.2 min
Dayton +

Which City is Right for You?

Cicero leads in median household income at $57,479, while dayton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $138,867. On public safety, Dayton is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 residents, compared to 344 in Cicero. Dayton has a lower unemployment rate at 9.7%, and Cicero has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.4 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Cicero scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Cicero & Dayton