Who in their right mind would ever move to Dayton, Ohio?

There are some people who enjoy a high cost of living in a nameless, faceless metro area, spending every cent of their paycheck on rent and eating dollar store cat food for dinner. Then there are the rest of us. You might be surprised to learn that Dayton, Ohio isn’t a place to fly over or drive through, it’s actually one of the best places to live – and best kept secrets – in the United States. Dayton is affordable, it has a long history, a rich culture, tons of enrichment opportunities, beautiful green spaces and trails, the people are fantastic and it’s not at all pretentious. That said, it’s not for everybody.

Not sure about living in Dayton? Here are the top 6 reasons you should avoid making the move.

1. You want to blow a wad on rent

If you are the kind of person who loves paying a fortune to live in a closet, you probably won’t like Dayton. If you’re wishing you could have your own place AND save for a nice vacation, you’ll love it here. Want to spend 20 years paying off your student loans? Definitely avoid Dayton. Rated No. 2 on this list of most affordable places to live in the United States, Dayton and surrounding cities are known nationally for their affordability and high quality of life. You can live large here, have a decent-sized apartment to yourself and pay off your student loans.

2. You like to avoid innovative, educated, interesting and curious people

Dayton and its surrounding communities are rich with academic institutions such as the University of Dayton, Wright State University, Sinclair Community College, School of Advertising Art and Miami of Ohio. If you’re interested in education for your kids, Beavercreek, Oakwood, Kettering, and other surrounding towns have excellent public and private school options.

There is also significant research and development happening in industrial, aeronautical and astronautical engineering here in Dayton, due in part to the the role that Wright-Patterson Air Force Base plays within the community.

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3. You enjoy being unhappy and alone

Dayton is dynamic, growing and bubbling with youthful energy. If you’re recently graduated and are looking for a great place to start a career, CBS News ranked Dayton one of the best up-and-coming towns for college grads in the United States. Forbes has referred to Dayton as the happiest place in the country to work. Even better, the Marxent office is located in the happiest city in Ohio which includes one of Marxent’s favorite hangout spots called The Greene, where we get lunch, hang out after work, and sometimes catch a movie together.

4. You don’t like good food or libations

We get it. Not everyone likes to eat, sip or enjoy good local restaurants. If you really don’t like good food, then you might want to keep your distance from Dayton. Whether it’s pizza, donuts, steak, bourbon, brews, brownies or home cooking, we’ve got a nationally-ranked place around nearly every corner. Sure, we have our share of chain places (for those of you who like familiar dining) but we also have a slew of great local options from pub grub to vegan and farm-to-table cuisine.

Dayton’s Pine Club Steak House is ranked in food Network’s Top 5 steakhouses in the U.S.  Marion’s Piazza earned the No. 1 spot on Pizza Today’s 2013 Hot 100 Independent Pizzerias. Our very own Century Bar located downtown earned a spot on Men’s Journal Top 10 Bourbon Bars in America. Did someone say donuts? We have one of the best places in America for those too. Bill’s Donuts, located in Centerville was ranked on USA Todays 10 great places to get donuts. If none of these pique your tastebuds, check out this list of top places to eat in Dayton.

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5. You just want to stay inside and play video games all day

Obviously, Marxent is brimming with video game enthusiasts and there are days that we stay inside and and feed the need. That said, many of us also like to get outside and play. From hiking and fishing to boating and camping, there are endless options within short driving distance. Dayton is home to the nation’s largest paved trail network, 3 State Designated Water Trails, along with award winning mountain biking, hiking, and events. You don’t have to go far to stumble upon one of our seven MetroParks, each with a unique experience. If you dig local produce and farmer’s markets, then you’ll feel right at home here. Dayton is brimming with farmer’s markets featuring local produce. When you crave divine ice cream, feel like practicing your golf swing, or just want a fun place to take your kids, you’re destined to visit Young’s Dairy.

6. You don’t like unique local flavor or listening to live music

There are plenty of things to do in Dayton, even if you don’t like going out. However, if you do enjoy going out, listening to live music and feeling the local buzz, you’ll appreciate our Oregon District. The district is filled with live music venues, vintage clothing shops, coffee bars, restaurants, and local craft breweries. In fact, we have more breweries than any other city in Ohio. If you enjoy the performing arts, visit the Schuster Center where you can see symphonies, ballets, plays, attend various fun events, or catch an opera. Before the show, sample the world-fusion cuisine at Salar or grab a beer at the Warped Wing Brewery.

We live here, we love it – but it’s not for everyone

Many of our visitors have said, “I had no idea a place like this was here” or “I can’t believe a company this cool is in the area.” We’re here, loud and proud – and we’re not leaving. We have a unique office space with an open floor plan and desk clovers designed to increase collaboration. We are surrounded by awesome cities and just a few minutes from shopping centers, restaurants, and downtown Dayton. Just one visit and you’ll see the one-of-a-kind team we have here. It’s an exciting place to be and we hope you’ll join us.