City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
The income gap between Dallas and Anaheim is significant: $70,518 median household versus $95,227. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,472 in Dallas and $2,175 in Anaheim.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Anaheim wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Anaheim are 1,219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $703 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $24,709 (35%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 143 in Anaheim, down 45 points (24%).
The move
Anaheim and Dallas are 1,219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $703 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $70,518 in Dallas, down $24,709 (26%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 188 in Dallas, up 45 points (31%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Dallas rent is 32% cheaper than Anaheim
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Dallas is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $703/month back in your pocket ($8,436/year). Over five years that's $42,180 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Dallas is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Anaheim's median income is 35% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Anaheim (about $24,709 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
24% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 24% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Anaheim are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anaheim is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Dallas (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Anaheim runs $2,175/month while Dallas sits at $1,472 — roughly 32% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Anaheim-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 41/100 in Dallas and 49/100 in Anaheim.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Dallas; Anaheim only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Anaheim at $95,227 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Anaheim, plus other cities in TX and CA.
