Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 15 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
St. Petersburg
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,410)
Homes cost $18k less ($270,700 vs $289,000)
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 St. Petersburg by $6,348/yr
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
6% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $6,348 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Home Value
$18k less
$270,700 vs $289,000
Dallas
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 89.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$6,348
$70,333 vs $63,985/yr
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
6% lower
619.6 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 15.7% ✓ 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 | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 259,343 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 15 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 8 and St. Petersburg wins 15. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $289,000 median home), income ($63,985 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and St. Petersburg, FL are about 911 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.