City comparison
Yes. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 189 in Lubbock, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 221, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lubbock is cheaper. Median rent is $1,182 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
The income gap between Dallas and Lubbock is significant: $70,518 median household versus $60,895. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,472 in Dallas and $1,182 in Lubbock.
Dallas is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Lubbock makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Dallas is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lubbock at $1,182 average has pockets that run $982 and others at $1,582: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Lubbock are 297 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, down $290 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $60,895 in Lubbock, down $9,623 (14%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 189 in Lubbock, up 1 points (1%).
The move
Lubbock and Dallas are 297 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $290 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $70,518 in Dallas, up $9,623 (16%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 188 in Dallas, down 1 points (1%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Lubbock rent is 20% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Lubbock
Winner$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,182 a month in Lubbock versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Lubbock is 20% 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 $3,480, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lubbock 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 Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Dallas's median income is 16% higher than Lubbock
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Lubbock
$60,895
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $60,895 in Lubbock, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Dallas (about $9,623 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, Dallas is the stronger labor market on paper. Lubbock can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
1% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 1% lower than Lubbock
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
189 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 189 in Lubbock (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Dallas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Dallas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Lubbock. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 9% more comfortable than Lubbock
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lubbock
62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lubbock averages around 62°F. Dallas scores 9% 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 Lubbock 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 16% higher ($70,518), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 1% lower than Lubbock (188 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Lubbock
Lubbock is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,182 a month. Choose Lubbock if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Lubbock at $1,182/month versus $1,472 in Dallas ($290 apart). Dallas median income is $70,518 against $60,895 in Lubbock, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Lubbock rent at $1,182/month is still below Dallas's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Dallas and 62°F in Lubbock.
If housing cost drives your move, Lubbock is the stronger match ($1,182/month rent against $1,472). If an employer or family tie already points to Dallas, treat $1,472/month rent and $70,518 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Lubbock, plus other cities in TX.
