Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($270,700 vs $458,600)
24% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
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
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $8,372/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,372 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Violent Crime
24% lower
658.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
Dallas
Median Home Value
$188k less
$270,700 vs $458,600
Dallas
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 91.4°F
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$8,372
$72,357 vs $63,985/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 12 and Salt Lake City wins 11. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $458,600 median home), income ($63,985 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,002 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.