Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
13
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
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $613k less ($270,700 vs $883,800)
66% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,849)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $30,404/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
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,404 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Violent Crime
66% lower
658.2 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Dallas
Median Home Value
$613k less
$270,700 vs $883,800
Dallas
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
25.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$30,404
$94,389 vs $63,985/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 437,825 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 13 and Oakland wins 10. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $883,800 median home), income ($63,985 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Oakland, CA are about 1,472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.