A home exterior in a Dayton-area suburbMoving to Kettering, Ohio: Prices, Commute and What to Know
Landing in Dayton and Kettering keeps coming up? Here is what the public numbers say, and what to verify yourself.
October 30, 2026 · 7 min read
The short answer
Kettering is a Montgomery County city of about 57,396 people directly south of Dayton. The Census Bureau puts the median owner-occupied home value at $208,500, median rent at $1,051 and the mean commute at 20.3 minutes (2020 to 2024). That sits below Beavercreek ($279,600) and Centerville ($287,200) and close to Troy ($217,400).
| Kettering | Beavercreek | Centerville | Troy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $208,500 | $279,600 | $287,200 | $217,400 |
| Median gross rent | $1,051 | $1,457 | $1,270 | $1,003 |
| Owner cost with mortgage | $1,467 | $1,837 | $1,781 | $1,326 |
| Mean commute (min) | 20.3 | 19.8 | 20.4 | 21.6 |
| Population | 57,396 | 48,134 | 25,194 | 27,344 |
What a home costs
The median owner-occupied home in Kettering is valued at $208,500. Owners with a mortgage report median monthly costs of $1,467, against $1,837 in Beavercreek and $1,781 in Centerville. That gap is the practical difference in a monthly budget.
About 64.9% of Kettering homes are owner-occupied. A median is the midpoint for the whole city, so one street can run well above or below it. Look at recent sold prices for the block you care about.
How long the drive is
Kettering workers report a mean commute of 20.3 minutes, close to Centerville (20.4) and Beavercreek (19.8). That number averages every workplace in the region, so it will not match your route exactly. Drive yours at your real hours before you decide.
What is in the city
Kettering runs its own recreation system. The Kettering Recreation Complex on Glengarry Drive has an indoor pool, an ice arena and a seasonal water park, and Fraze Pavilion is a city-owned outdoor concert venue on Lincoln Park Boulevard.
Kettering is also the most densely settled of the cities we compare, at about 3,091 people per square mile (2020 Census), so expect closer lots than in lower-density cities like Clayton.
Schools
Kettering is served by Kettering City Schools. Ohio publishes the same report card measures for every district, so read the district's current data and compare it with Beavercreek City Schools, Centerville City Schools and any other district on your list.
What to do next
Pull recent sold prices for two or three streets. Run the drive to work at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Price the payment with your actual rate. Then see Kettering in person.
Keep reading
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020 to 2024 (population: July 1, 2025 estimate). Read 2026-10-30.
Sources: Census QuickFacts: Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville and Troy; City of Kettering: Play Kettering; Ohio School Report Cards.
Medians describe a whole city, not a single home. Verify details for any property you are considering.
Questions people ask
What is the median home price in Kettering, Ohio?
The Census Bureau reports a median value of $208,500 for owner-occupied homes in Kettering (ACS 5-year, 2020 to 2024).
How long is the commute from Kettering?
Kettering workers report a mean travel time to work of 20.3 minutes (ACS, 2020 to 2024).
Is Kettering cheaper than Beavercreek?
By Census medians, yes. Kettering's median home value is $208,500 against $279,600 in Beavercreek, and owners with a mortgage report median monthly costs of $1,467 against $1,837.
What county is Kettering, Ohio in?
Kettering is in Montgomery County and borders Dayton to the south.
What school district serves Kettering?
Kettering City Schools. The Ohio School Report Cards site publishes the district's current data.
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