The Town FilesDayton, Pennsylvania
Borough in Armstrong County · population 549 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $105,400
- Household income
- $58,448
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 44.4
Dayton is a borough of 549 people in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $105,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 80% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 79% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Dayton ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dayton is worth $105,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $58,448, which is more affordable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $615 a month. 87.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dayton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $105,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $615 | $996 |
| Median household income | $58,448 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Dayton
| People | Dayton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 38.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Dayton
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2013.
Severe weather in Armstrong County since 1996
Armstrong County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| June 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1649: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Armstrong County
Armstrong County had 15,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,796 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 19%.
Public schools in Dayton
1 public school with 194 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton El Sch | K-6 | 194 | 12.1 |
Towns near Dayton
- Wayne, PA2.5 mi · 1,296 people · home $204,500
- West Mahoning, PA3.9 mi · 1,324 people · home $135,300
- Cowanshannock, PA6.3 mi · 2,741 people · home $169,400
- Redbank, PA6.8 mi · 974 people · home $108,600
- South Mahoning, PA6.8 mi · 1,825 people · home $185,400
- Rural Valley, PA6.9 mi · 826 people · home $145,200
- Mahoning, PA7.4 mi · 1,404 people · home $123,500
- Ringgold, PA9.0 mi · 773 people · home $112,200
Dayton questions
Is Dayton, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dayton scores better for retirees than 54% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 79%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dayton is valued at $105,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,448, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $615 a month.
What is the weather like in Dayton?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Dayton get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)