City comparison
Yes. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Dallas and Stockton 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 $1,577 in Stockton, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $79,907. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and safety and Stockton wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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 Stockton are 1,420 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $105 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $79,907 in Stockton, up $9,389 (13%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 233 in Stockton, up 45 points (24%).
The move
Stockton and Dallas are 1,420 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $105 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $70,518 in Dallas, down $9,389 (12%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 188 in Dallas, down 45 points (19%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Dallas rent is 7% cheaper than Stockton
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Dallas is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $105, or $1,260 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
13% higher
Stockton's median income is 13% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Stockton (about $9,389 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, Stockton 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
19% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 19% lower than Stockton
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in Dallas. 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, Dallas is the easier city. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Stockton are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% 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.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Stockton (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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Stockton is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($79,907). Start with Stockton if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Dallas scores 41/100 versus 34/100 in Stockton. Rent is $1,472/month in Dallas and $1,577/month in Stockton, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Stockton's $1,577, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Dallas and $1,577 in Stockton.
Between Dallas and Stockton, Dallas is ahead on safety — 41/100 safety versus 34/100. Lean Stockton instead when you already know the Stockton block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Stockton, plus other cities in TX and CA.
