Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 18 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($270,700 vs $337,500)
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,586)
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $27,903/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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $27,903 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Home Value
$67k less
$270,700 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Median Income
$27,903
$91,888 vs $63,985/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
80% lower
130.7 vs 658.2 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.0% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 18 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 5 and Round Rock wins 18. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $337,500 median home), income ($63,985 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Round Rock, TX are about 165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.