What’s the best part of Dayton?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Dayton are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Dayton neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Ohio and Dayton is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Dayton for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Patterson Park looks to be the best Dayton neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Dayton that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Dayton.
For more Ohio reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Dayton
1. Patterson Park
Population: 1,469
Median Home Value: $115,800 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $65,515 (Fourth best)
More on Patterson Park: Real Estate
2. Pheasant Hill
Population: 2,604
Median Home Value: $163,800 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $78,333 (best)
More on Pheasant Hill: Real Estate
3. Dayton View Triangle
Population: 1,763
Median Home Value: $77,250 (22nd best)
Median Income: $44,876 (Ninth best)
More on Dayton View Triangle: Real Estate
4. Shroyer Park
Population: 2,047
Median Home Value: $111,700 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $49,965 (Fifth best)
More on Shroyer Park: Real Estate
5. Mcpherson
Population: 399
Median Home Value: $158,600 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $40,202 (16th best)
More on Mcpherson: Real Estate
6. Hearthstone
Population: 1,995
Median Home Value: $72,933 (25th best)
Median Income: $46,116 (Eighth best)
More on Hearthstone: Real Estate
7. Gateway
Population: 1,418
Median Home Value: $125,600 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $67,218 (Third best)
More on Gateway: Real Estate
8. Princeton Heights
Population: 636
Median Home Value: $61,800 (35th best)
Median Income: $48,250 (Seventh best)
More on Princeton Heights: Real Estate
9. Belmont
Population: 9,715
Median Home Value: $78,570 (2best)
Median Income: $34,948 (22nd best)
More on Belmont: Real Estate
10. University Park
Population: 9,408
Median Home Value: $96,400 (13th best)
Median Income: $44,028 (Tenth best)
More on University Park: Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Dayton, OH Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Dayton, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 64 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Dayton.” We’re lookin’ at you, Patterson Park.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Dayton, Ohio has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Dayton.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Dayton
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Dayton where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Dayton are Patterson Park, Pheasant Hill, Dayton View Triangle, Shroyer Park, Mcpherson, Hearthstone, Gateway, Princeton Heights, Belmont, and University Park.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Dayton aren’t all good. Highview Hills takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Dayton.
The worst neighborhoods in Dayton are Highview Hills, Stoney Ridge, Lakeview, Roosevelt, and McCook Field.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Dayton For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patterson Park | 1,469 | $115,800 | $65,515 |
| 2 | Pheasant Hill | 2,604 | $163,800 | $78,333 |
| 3 | Dayton View Triangle | 1,763 | $77,250 | $44,876 |
| 4 | Shroyer Park | 2,047 | $111,700 | $49,965 |
| 5 | Mcpherson | 399 | $158,600 | $40,202 |
| 6 | Hearthstone | 1,995 | $72,933 | $46,116 |
| 7 | Gateway | 1,418 | $125,600 | $67,218 |
| 8 | Princeton Heights | 636 | $61,800 | $48,250 |
| 9 | Belmont | 9,715 | $78,570 | $34,948 |
| 10 | University Park | 9,408 | $96,400 | $44,028 |
| 11 | Eastmont | 2,355 | $79,800 | $48,437 |
| 12 | Oregon | 1,302 | $183,400 | $17,019 |
| 13 | Forest Ridge-Quail Hollow | 3,423 | $119,850 | $76,586 |
| 14 | Downtown | 1,658 | $190,300 | $26,157 |
| 15 | University Row | 1,085 | $74,100 | $41,071 |
| 16 | Linden Heights | 6,008 | $68,833 | $40,758 |
| 17 | Walnut Hills | 4,770 | $69,083 | $33,424 |
| 18 | Old Dayton View | 1,125 | $76,950 | $31,540 |
| 19 | Webster Station | 717 | $190,300 | $26,157 |
| 20 | Grafton Hill | 1,404 | $97,800 | $24,966 |
| 21 | Historic Inner East | 2,479 | $71,725 | $37,476 |
| 22 | South Park | 1,701 | $112,575 | $28,116 |
| 23 | Kittyhawk | 1,982 | $84,867 | $40,654 |
| 24 | College Hill | 2,001 | $61,150 | $35,170 |
| 25 | Northern Hills | 1,706 | $57,533 | $33,292 |
| 26 | Germantown Meadows | 1,663 | $87,700 | $39,874 |
| 27 | Deweese | 1,485 | $84,500 | $41,068 |
| 28 | Five Oaks | 2,500 | $48,350 | $30,806 |
| 29 | Eastern Hills | 4,568 | $56,740 | $35,794 |
| 30 | Northridge Estates | 2,671 | $102,825 | $38,384 |
| 31 | Fairlane | 1,546 | $79,000 | $43,509 |
| 32 | Springfield | 2,862 | $63,800 | $34,497 |
| 33 | Carillon | 614 | $54,500 | $30,000 |
| 34 | Burkhardt | 4,329 | $52,600 | $22,256 |
| 35 | Wright View | 4,230 | $51,075 | $30,502 |
| 36 | Hillcrest | 2,608 | $67,075 | $29,992 |
| 37 | Mount Vernon | 677 | $69,100 | $25,312 |
| 38 | Madden Hills | 587 | $59,400 | $26,487 |
| 39 | Fairview | 1,624 | $61,875 | $27,606 |
| 40 | Cornell Heights | 1,855 | $49,200 | $23,864 |
| 41 | Riverdale | 1,039 | $50,000 | $19,321 |
| 42 | Five Points | 565 | $78,800 | $18,190 |
| 43 | Santa Clara | 1,562 | $51,550 | $23,958 |
| 44 | Wolf Creek | 398 | $78,800 | $18,190 |
| 45 | Old North Dayton | 5,559 | $55,567 | $29,395 |
| 46 | Midtown | 178 | $70,700 | $21,164 |
| 47 | Philadelphia Woods | 1,072 | $68,400 | $29,390 |
| 48 | North Riverdale | 4,026 | $44,560 | $20,826 |
| 49 | Twin Towers | 2,880 | $33,475 | $19,908 |
| 50 | Arlington Heights | 443 | $18,850 | $25,000 |
| 51 | West Wood | 5,107 | $30,612 | $23,023 |
| 52 | Southern Dayton View | 2,229 | $38,075 | $30,431 |
| 53 | Little Richmond | 800 | $55,300 | $27,813 |
| 54 | Residence Park | 4,110 | $52,462 | $21,562 |
| 55 | Wesleyan Hill | 1,459 | $48,000 | $19,481 |
| 56 | Miami Chapel | 1,549 | $55,500 | $18,528 |
| 57 | Edgemont | 1,644 | $47,500 | $22,528 |
| 58 | Greenwich Village | 2,365 | $28,200 | $24,679 |
| 59 | Pineview | 823 | $39,750 | $21,512 |
| 60 | Mccook Field | 789 | $12,350 | $24,773 |
| 61 | Roosevelt | 782 | $26,500 | $17,014 |
| 62 | Lakeview | 1,574 | $5,850 | $16,990 |
| 63 | Stoney Ridge | 1,554 | $39,500 | $17,984 |
| 64 | Highview Hills | 521 | $39,500 | $17,984 |