Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
347,111
Dallas
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,553 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Dallas
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $443k less ($270,700 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $653/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,958)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $24,553/yr
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$24,553
$88,538 vs $63,985/yr
Anaheim
Violent Crime
9% lower
596.2 vs 658.2 per 100k
Dallas
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Home Value
$443k less
$270,700 vs $713,600
Dallas
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $270,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,305 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $63,985 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 36.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 80.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Dallas's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 10 and Dallas wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $270,700 median home), income ($88,538 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Dallas, TX are about 1,212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.