City comparison
No. Columbus's crime index is 164 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 140 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Dallas and 2024 FBI data for Columbus.
Columbus is cheaper. Median rent is $1,295 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Dallas and Columbus are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,472 in Dallas and $1,295 in Columbus, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $66,082. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Columbus costs less and Dallas 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Dallas and Columbus are 913 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,295 a month in Columbus, down $177 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $66,082 in Columbus, down $4,436 (6%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 164 in Columbus, down 24 points (13%).
The move
Columbus and Dallas are 913 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $177 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $70,518 in Dallas, up $4,436 (7%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 188 in Dallas, up 24 points (15%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Columbus, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Columbus? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Columbus rent is 12% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Columbus
Winner$1,295/mo
Typical rent runs $1,295 a month in Columbus versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Columbus is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,124, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Columbus still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Dallas.
Planning to buy in Columbus? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Dallas's median income is 7% higher than Columbus
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Columbus
$66,082
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Dallas (about $4,436 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
13% lower crime
Columbus's crime index is 13% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Columbus
Winner164 (100 = avg)
Columbus's crime index is 164 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Columbus. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Columbus, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Dallas. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 20% more comfortable than Columbus
Dallas
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Columbus
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Columbus averages about 59°F (67°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Columbus averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Dallas scores 20% 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 Columbus if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 7% higher ($70,518), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Columbus is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,295 a month. Choose Columbus if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Columbus is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Dallas (164 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,472/month rent in Dallas at 73°F versus $1,295 in Columbus at 59°F. Income runs $70,518 vs $66,082, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $177 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,295 in Columbus and $1,472 in Dallas.
Between Dallas and Columbus, Dallas is ahead on climate — 73°F typical weather versus 59°F. Lean Columbus instead when you would rather tolerate 59°F than optimize for Dallas's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Columbus when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Columbus, plus other cities in TX and OH.
