Coming in right behind Asheville, N.C., Dayton was No. 5 on the list for a number of notable reasons.
Credit: Submitted
Credit: Submitted
"This may be somewhat of a surprise to those unfamiliar with central Ohio as the Buckeye State is not known for snow-capped peaks or desert canyons ... Dayton is referred to by many as the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest, and it's not just hot air designed to lure in weekend tourists. The push to revive Dayton as an outdoor destination is just getting started," according to RunRepeat's article.
The publication did its research when compiling its picks, as it cites Dayton’s 45 outdoor-oriented businesses, 50 outdoor clubs in the area, Dayton’s official designation as a Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists and even praises the Five Rivers MetroParks for its 18 parks “all catering to the outdoor thrill seeker.”
The article also delves into Dayton’s economic state and discusses the cost of living as a major qualifier for the city landing toward the top of their list.
“The cost of living in Dayton is a major part of the draw to this little Midwest town. As of the writing of this article, you could buy a 3 bed 2 bath house for under $1,500. Believe your eyes, yes that says $1,500,” the article says, directing readers to local listings that show “an extreme example of affordable housing.”
“There’s way more inventory than residents so property values are currently low, the median home price is only $66K which makes Dayton less than a third the price of the next most affordable town on our list,” the article continues.
“The median income was also the lowest on our list at $28K a year, but when you compare these two numbers Dayton scored off the charts for affordability,” according to RunRepeat.
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