Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Austin leads 17 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202
Dallas
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
29% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $22,571 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($270,700 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $244/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,549)
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $22,571/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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$22,571
$86,556 vs $63,985/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
29% lower
466.9 vs 658.2 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Dallas
Median Home Value
$191k less
$270,700 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $270,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,305 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $63,985 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 11.9% |
| 🔒 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 | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 36.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Dallas's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Austin is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 17 of 23 categories. Austin wins 17 and Dallas wins 6. 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 Austin to Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $270,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Dallas, TX are about 182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.