Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
San Jose
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $879k less ($270,700 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1221/mo less ($1,305 vs $2,526)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $72,025/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
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,025 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Dallas
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Home Value
$879k less
$270,700 vs $1,149,600
Dallas
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$72,025
$136,010 vs $63,985/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
8% lower
606.8 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 1,001,176 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 9 and San Jose wins 14. 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($63,985 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and San Jose, CA are about 1,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.