Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642
Houston
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
43% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $3,545 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Houston
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $36k less ($235,000 vs $270,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Dallas by $3,545/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$3,545
$63,985 vs $60,440/yr
Dallas
Violent Crime
43% lower
658.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Dallas
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 93.2°F
Houston
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$36k less
$235,000 vs $270,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 42.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 14 and Houston 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $235,000 median home), income ($63,985 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Houston, TX are about 223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.