City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Dallas and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 95 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Tampa wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Tampa are 917 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $229 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $75,475 in Tampa, up $4,957 (7%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 93 in Tampa, down 95 points (51%).
The move
Tampa and Dallas are 917 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $229 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $70,518 in Dallas, down $4,957 (7%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 188 in Dallas, up 95 points (102%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Dallas rent is 13% cheaper than Tampa
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Dallas is 13% 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 $2,748, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Tampa.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Tampa's median income is 7% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Tampa (about $4,957 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
51% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 51% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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
Neck and neck
Dallas and Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
70°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Tampa averages about 70°F (77°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa sits near 70°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Tampa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($75,475). Start with Tampa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Dallas (93 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
Safety is the widest gap: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 41/100 in Dallas. Rent is $1,701/month in Tampa and $1,472/month in Dallas, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Tampa still pays more locally ($75,475 median income vs $70,518), which can offset the lease if your field pays Tampa rates.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Tampa is ahead on safety (62/100 vs 41/100); Dallas is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,472/month rent plus $70,518 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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