Moving from Houston to Dallas
- Rent
- $111 higher (8.2%)
- Home value
- 15.4% higher
- Household income
- 8.8% higher
- Crime index
- 270 vs 188
Median rent is $1,361 in Houston, $111 less than $1,472 in Dallas.
The crime index is 188 in Dallas, lower than 270 in Houston.
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas and $64,813 in Houston, a difference of $5,705.
What changes when you move from Houston to Dallas
| Metric | Houston | Dallas | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,361 | $1,472 | $111 higher (8.2%) |
| Median home value | $277,800 | $320,700 | $42,900 higher (15.4%) |
| Rent as a share of income | 32.1% | 30.9% | 1.2 points lower |
| Median household income | $64,813 | $70,518 | $5,705 higher (8.8%) |
| Unemployment | 6.9% | 4.9% | 2 points lower |
| Poverty | 19.9% | 16.7% | 3.2 points lower |
| Crime index | 270 | 188 | 82 points lower |
| Violent index | 294 | 179 | 115 points lower |
| Property index | 246 | 196 | 50 points lower |
| Mean commute | 27.2 minutes | 25.7 minutes | 1.5 minutes lower |
| Work from home share | 13% | 15.8% | 2.8 points higher |
| Annual precipitation | 55.6 inches | 38.3 inches | 17.3 inches lower |
| July average high | 92.9 F | 96.9 F | 4 F higher |
| January average low | 46.1 F | 37.9 F | 8.2 F lower |
| Days at or above 90 F | 101 | 108 | 7 days higher |
| Days at or below 32 F | 4 | 23 | 19 days higher |
| Median age | 34.4 | 33.4 | 1 years lower |
| Bachelor's share | 36.6% | 38.2% | 1.6 points higher |
| Population | 2,328,253 | 1,307,930 | 1,020,323 lower |
Cost of living: Houston vs Dallas
Moving from Houston to Dallas, median rent is 8.2% higher and the median home value is 15.4% higher.
Dallas's median rent is 4.2% above the US median. Houston's is 3.7% below it.
Is Dallas safer than Houston?
Moving from Houston to Dallas, the crime index is 30.4% lower.
Dallas's crime index is 88% above the US baseline. Houston's is 170% above it.
Jobs and income
Moving from Houston to Dallas, household income is 8.8% higher.
Dallas's household income is 12.7% below the US median. Houston's is 19.7% below it.
Weather: Houston vs Dallas
Moving from Houston to Dallas, annual precipitation is 17.3 inches lower and the July average high is 4 F higher.
Commute
Moving from Houston to Dallas, mean travel time is 5.5% lower.
Dallas's mean travel time is 2.7% below the US mean. Houston's is 3% above it.
Moving from Dallas to Houston instead
Going the other way, from Dallas to Houston, rent falls $111 (7.5%) and the crime index goes from 188 to 270.
Who each city fits
Who Houston fits
- First-time buyers: the median home value is $277,800, 16.5% below the US median of $332,700.
Related comparisons
Next steps
Tools for your move
Quotes and listings for Dallas when you're ready to act.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to live in Dallas than Houston?
Moving from Houston to Dallas, median rent is 8.2% higher and the median home value is 15.4% higher. Dallas's median rent is 4.2% above the US median. Houston's is 3.7% below it.
Is Dallas safer than Houston?
Moving from Houston to Dallas, the crime index is 30.4% lower. Dallas's crime index is 88% above the US baseline. Houston's is 170% above it.
How much do people earn in Dallas compared to Houston?
Moving from Houston to Dallas, household income is 8.8% higher. Dallas's household income is 12.7% below the US median. Houston's is 19.7% below it.
What is the weather like in Dallas compared to Houston?
Moving from Houston to Dallas, annual precipitation is 17.3 inches lower and the July average high is 4 F higher.
Is moving from Houston to Dallas a good idea?
Median rent is $1,361 in Houston, $111 less than $1,472 in Dallas. The crime index is 188 in Dallas, lower than 270 in Houston. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas and $64,813 in Houston, a difference of $5,705.
Sources
- ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- Crime index, violent index, and property index: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2024-2025. Agencies: Houston Police Department; Dallas Police Department.
- Climate for Houston: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020. Station HOUSTON HOBBY AP, TX US, 11.6 miles from the city center.
- Climate for Dallas: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020. Station DALLAS LOVE FLD, TX US, 5.1 miles from the city center.
- Geography: Houston, TX, place, GEOID 4835000.
- Geography: Dallas, TX, place, GEOID 4819000.