What are the schools like in Dallas, TX?

Dallas is served primarily by DALLAS ISD. The district operates 152 elementary schools, 42 middle schools, and 40 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Dallas?

The median household income in Dallas, TX is $63,985 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.

What is the weather like in Dallas, TX?

Dallas has an average high temperature of 57.7°F in January and 96.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.7 inches.

Dallas, TX Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dallas, TX affordable or expensive?

Dallas's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dallas is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $270,700 and the median rent is $1,305 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dallas, TX?

Dallas has a violent crime rate of 658.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3351.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dallas, TX a Good Place to Live?

Dallas is a large city of 1,300,642 in Texas, with a median household income of $63,985 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Dallas stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Dallas is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dallas city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.3

Dallas's overall cost of living index is 103.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dallas costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Dallas, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$270,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,305	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	41.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,985	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Dallas's violent crime rate is 658.2 per 100,000 residents — 73% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

658.2 /100k

Property Crime

3351.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Dallas is served primarily by DALLAS ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dallas, TX	National Avg
School District	DALLAS ISD	—
Elementary Schools	152	—
Middle Schools	42	—
High Schools	40	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	36.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dallas sees average highs of 57.7°F in January and 96.9°F in July, with 41.4 inches of annual precipitation and 1.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dallas, TX
Average High — January	57.7°F
Average High — July	96.9°F
Annual Precipitation	41.4"
Annual Snowfall	1.7"

Demographics

Metric	Dallas, TX	National Avg
Population	1,300,642	—
Median Age	33.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	48.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	23.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	21.9%	18.9%
Asian	3.7%	6.3%
Under 18	24.4%	22.2%
65 and over	11.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Highland Park, TX 3 mi University Park, TX 4 mi Cockrell Hill, TX 8 mi Balch Springs, TX 10 mi Mesquite, TX 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Dallas

Dallas, TX is covered by 47 ZIP codes:

75217 75241 75211 75216 75236 75253 75229 75227 75220 75228 75212 75243 75232 75215 75248 75214 75230 75218 75235 75237 75247 75238 75208 75224 75287 75231 75249 75252 75203 75206 75207 75240 75233 75209 75223 75225 75254 75204 75210 75219 75201 75226 75202 75251 75246 75390 75270

Dallas vs Other Cities

Dallas, TX vs Highland Park, TX Dallas, TX vs University Park, TX Dallas, TX vs Cockrell Hill, TX Dallas, TX vs Balch Springs, TX Dallas, TX vs Mesquite, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dallas, TX affordable or expensive?

Dallas's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Dallas roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $270,700 and median rent is $1,305/month.

What is the crime rate in Dallas, TX?

Dallas's violent crime rate is 658.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3351.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dallas?

Public schools in Dallas are operated by DALLAS ISD. The district has 152 elementary, 42 middle, and 40 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 36.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dallas, TX a good place to live?

Dallas, TX has a population of 1,300,642, a median household income of $63,985, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dallas?

Dallas averages 57.7°F in January and 96.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.4 inches with about 1.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dallas?

Dallas, TX is covered by 47 ZIP codes: 75217, 75241, 75211, 75216, 75236, 75253, 75229, 75227, 75220, 75228, 75212, 75243, 75232, 75215, 75248, 75214, 75230, 75218, 75235, 75237, 75247, 75238, 75208, 75224, 75287, 75231, 75249, 75252, 75203, 75206, 75207, 75240, 75233, 75209, 75223, 75225, 75254, 75204, 75210, 75219, 75201, 75226, 75202, 75251, 75246, 75390, 75270.

What is the population of Dallas?

The population of Dallas, Texas is 1,300,642 with a median age of 33.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dallas?

Key numbers for living in Dallas: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $270,700, median household income $63,985, crime index 168 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dallas side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.