Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Dallas leads 15 of 23 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Dallas
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 97°F
Households earn $5,743 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Dallas
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($270,700 vs $489,400)
48% less violent crime than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,464)
Cons
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
Median income trails Compton by $5,743/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$5,743
$69,728 vs $63,985/yr
Dallas
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Violent Crime
48% lower
658.2 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Dallas
Median Home Value
$219k less
$270,700 vs $489,400
Dallas
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
19.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, 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 | $489,400⚠ High | $270,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,305 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $63,985 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 36.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 80.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton'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 15 of 23 categories. Compton wins 8 and Dallas wins 15. 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 Compton to Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $270,700 median home), income ($69,728 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Dallas, TX are about 1,239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.