Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.0%)
11% less violent crime than Fresno
Homes cost $51k less ($270,700 vs $321,800)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Fresno, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,305)
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Income
$984
$63,985 vs $63,001/yr
Dallas
Violent Crime
11% lower
658.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Dallas
Median Home Value
$51k less
$270,700 vs $321,800
Dallas
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 541,528 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 14 and Fresno wins 9. 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 Dallas to Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $321,800 median home), income ($63,985 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Fresno, CA are about 1,332 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.