The Town FilesDayton, Washington
City in Columbia County · population 2,448 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $243,600
- Household income
- $70,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.3
Dayton is a city of 2,448 people in Columbia County, Washington. The median home is worth $243,600, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 93% of Washington towns, quieter than 84% of Washington towns.
How Dayton ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dayton is worth $243,600, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $70,625, which is more affordable than 96% of Washington towns. Median rent is $973 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dayton | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $243,600 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $973 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $70,625 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Dayton
| People | Dayton | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Dayton
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 26.4°F. About 18.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F1, struck on January 16, 2000 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 16, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on July 12, 2012.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 8, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4593: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 23, 2020 | Flood | DR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
| April 21, 2017 | Flood | DR-4309: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 1,495 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,059 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Dayton
4 public schools with 352 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton Elementary School | PK-5 | 180 | 15.0 |
| Dayton High School | 9-12 | 90 | 8.2 |
| Dayton Middle School | 6-8 | 78 | 19.5 |
| Dayton School District Alternative Program | 9-12 | 4 | — |
Towns near Dayton
- Waitsburg, WA8.9 mi · 1,166 people · home $266,400
- Pomeroy, WA21.1 mi · 1,389 people · home $216,700
- Walla Walla East, WA24.4 mi · 2,286 people · home $607,900
- Walla Walla, WA24.4 mi · 34,060 people · home $393,600
- Garrett, WA27.0 mi · 1,771 people · home $372,000
- College Place, WA27.5 mi · 9,902 people · home $366,600
Dayton questions
Is Dayton, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dayton scores better for retirees than 93% of Washington towns and quieter than 84%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dayton is valued at $243,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,625, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $973 a month.
What is the weather like in Dayton?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 26.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.8 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does Dayton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on January 16, 2000. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)