City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
Dallas and Reno 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 $1,556 in Reno, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $80,760. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Dallas costs less and Reno 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 Reno are 1,361 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $84 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $80,760 in Reno, up $10,242 (15%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 151 in Reno, down 37 points (20%).
The move
Reno and Dallas are 1,361 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $84 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $70,518 in Dallas, down $10,242 (13%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 188 in Dallas, up 37 points (25%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Dallas rent is 5% cheaper than Reno
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Reno
$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,556 in Reno, so Dallas is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $84, or $1,008 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
15% higher
Reno's median income is 15% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Reno
Winner$80,760
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Reno (about $10,242 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, Reno 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
20% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 20% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Reno. 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, Reno 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
9% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno 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 Reno 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 5% 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 Reno on this page's weather index by 9%. Reno 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
Reno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($80,760). Start with Reno if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Dallas (151 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
Dallas carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 47/100 in Reno). That 6-point spread matters more than the $84 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Reno's $1,556, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Dallas and 62°F in Reno.
Reno clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Dallas deserves a serious look only when you already know the Dallas block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Reno, plus other cities in TX and NV.
