City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Dallas and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 46 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Dallas costs less and Raleigh 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 crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Raleigh are 1,056 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $100 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $14,877 (21%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 142 in Raleigh, down 46 points (24%).
The move
Raleigh and Dallas are 1,056 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $100 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $70,518 in Dallas, down $14,877 (17%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 188 in Dallas, up 46 points (32%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Dallas rent is 6% cheaper than Raleigh
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Dallas is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $100, or $1,200 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
21% higher
Raleigh's median income is 21% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Raleigh (about $14,877 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, Raleigh 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
Raleigh's crime index is 24% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
16% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Dallas scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 6% 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 (67°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 21% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh 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 (142 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
Raleigh posts $85,395 median household income against $70,518 in Dallas. That 17% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,472 in Dallas and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Raleigh vs 41/100 in Dallas), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Dallas and 60°F in Raleigh.
Raleigh leads on local pay ($85,395 median income vs $70,518), even though rent runs $1,572 versus $1,472 — skip Raleigh only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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