The Dayton area has always had a diversified manufacturing economy, with aerospace and business machinery among its key industries.
Some companies, however, such as the technology giant NCR, have pulled up stakes, and the population of the Dayton metro area decreased by about 1% between 2000 and 2010.
The dip in population has left home prices stagnant for years. That, combined with respectable median income, means that houses are easy for most working families to afford.
