City comparison
No. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Dallas and Boston. Dallas averages 73°F while Boston averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,472 versus $2,147.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Dallas costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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 Boston are 1,549 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $675 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $97,344 in Boston, up $26,826 (38%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 147 in Boston, down 41 points (22%).
The move
Boston and Dallas are 1,549 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $675 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $70,518 in Dallas, down $26,826 (28%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 188 in Dallas, up 41 points (28%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Dallas rent is 31% cheaper than Boston
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Boston
$2,147/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $2,147 in Boston, so Dallas is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $675/month back in your pocket ($8,100/year). Over five years that's $40,500 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 Boston, 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 Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Boston's median income is 38% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Boston
Winner$97,344
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Boston (about $26,826 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, Boston 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
22% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 22% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
39% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 39% more comfortable than Boston
Dallas
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Boston averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boston averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Dallas scores 39% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Boston if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% 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.
Pick Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 39%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Dallas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 38% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Dallas (147 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
Boston runs $2,147/month while Dallas sits at $1,472 — roughly 31% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Boston-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 73°F in Dallas and 55°F in Boston.
Dallas is the default on housing cost at $1,472/month versus $2,147 in Boston; Boston stays in play when $97,344 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $675 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Boston, plus other cities in TX and MA.
