Top 10
Stem Community by Forbes
A magnet for tech geeks.
Outside Magazine
340+
Miles of paved TRAILS
#3
For STEM Job Growth
31,000
Employees at Wright Patterson Air Force Base
1st
Welcoming community by Welcoming America
Get to know Dayton.
Where healthy boundaries meet boundless opportunity. Your best life starts here in Dayton, Ohio, where everyone’s reaching for the skies.
Neighborhoods
Discover hundreds of places to call home in Dayton, from vibrant downtown spaces to quiet country retreats and everything in between. Access Dayton’s entire 12-county region within an hour’s drive and enjoy an average commute time of about 20 minutes. Take your pick of urban, suburban, and rural communities without sacrificing family or free time to get where you’re going. With an unusually low cost of living and some of the best STEM school districts in the state, Dayton’s thriving communities offer you and your family a reawakening of the American Dream.
Arts & Culture
Dayton is a fantastic place to enjoy and participate in a world-class performing arts community. Experience the world-renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, which cultivates talent from across the nation. Support The Dayton Ballet, the second- oldest regional ballet company in the U.S., known across the globe as “The Company of Premieres” and one of the top three dance companies in the nation for producing and presenting new, full-length, 21st century ballets. But Dayton doesn’t stop with dance— the city’s thriving arts community offers impressive theater, Broadway-style shows, museums, opera, and more.
Sports
In Dayton, you’ll always be proud to root for the home team. Grab your tickets quick if you want to watch c, Single A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, play—they hold an 18- year U.S. record for most consecutive sellouts. If you’re into basketball, The University of Dayton is exclusive host to the NCAA’s Men’s Basketball First Four. Our community has given away more than 30,000 tickets to local military families and students to attend the festivities, and we can’t wait to have you cheering in the stands with us.
Healthy Living
Biking, hiking, fitness classes, and water sports are the cornerstones of healthy living in Dayton. Try white-water rafting at the new RiverScape River Run through downtown Dayton, or sign up for the U.S. Air Force Marathon. Start your day at the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience at Eastwood Metropark with virtual fitness in the park, then hit the open trails for a ride or run. Activities aside, Dayton is home to “Biggest Loser” trainer Erica Lugo, the long-time home box of CrossFit Athlete Amanda Barnhart, and the founder of To Shin Do martial art Steven K. Hayes. Your healthiest fitness plan ever is within reach in Dayton.
Food & Drink
Dining out (or in!) in Dayton is easy and fun. Skip the big-city wait times and explore outstanding restaurants, unique groceries, reliable delivery services, and more. Enjoy a wide array of restaurants and locally grown delicacies in Dayton’s Oregon District, Yellow Springs, Downtown Dayton, and across the entire metro area. Visit Dorothy Lane Market, an internationally recognized local grocery chain, or one of the region’s many farmer’s markets. If you love food, Dayton loves you. Pour a glass, pull up a chair, and dig in.
Activities
Concerts. Art shows. Festivals and fun. Whatever your passion, you can find it in Dayton. Three premier outdoor concert venues, including the Rose Music Center at the Heights, Fraze Pavilion, and the Levitt Pavilion, host a diverse lineup of artists each year. Summer festival season is filled with music and food, family-friendly fun and community. The Dayton Art Institute’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, a Dayton tradition since 1972, draws an average of 25,000 people each year. The Dayton Council of World Affairs’ yearly festival, A World A’Fair, highlights the more than 50 countries that make up Dayton’s diverse community. There’s always something to see and do in Dayton.
Aviation
Orville and Wilbur Wright changed the world when they decided to design a flying machine in their Wright Cycle Company in West Dayton, the birthplace of aviation. That desire to push the boundaries of known science has shaped Dayton into a region that thrives on innovation and takes pride in its creative problem-solving. You can be part of that culture in a city that’s shaped the past, present, and future of aerospace innovation, navigation systems, stealth technology and composite materials development. Discover Ohio’s rich aviation history at sites that include one of the world’s largest military aviation museums, the birthplace of the Wright brothers and Neil Armstrong, and the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Learn, love, and lead innovation with us in Dayton.
Yellow Springs
The Village of Yellow Springs is community is known for its recreational attractions, wonderful downtown shops, and unique restaurants. Home to attractions like Glen Helen Nature Preserve (home to the actual Yellow Spring), John Bryan State Park, Young’s Dairy, and the Little Miami Bike Trail, it’s the perfect place to experience and enjoy the great outdoors. Nearby Clifton Mills’ legendary holiday lights display attracts visitors from all over the Midwest. Support local businesses and “Shop Yellow” at boutiques, galleries, craft houses, and wineries. Yellow Springs is chock full of fun for everyone—shopping, dining, biking, hiking, and more.
Paved Trail System
Ohio’s Miami Valley region provides more than 340 miles of paved, multi- use recreational trails, open all year long from dawn to dusk. Stretching across county lines on top of old railway systems, these trails connect you quickly and easily to schools, parks, historic landmarks, and other area attractions. Travel along the path through majestic meadows, scenic countryside, forests, and city centers. Our trail system enhances wellness and quality of life for you, your family, and the people who will inevitably want to come visit you in your new Dayton area home.