Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
14
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
Stockton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
43% less violent crime than Stockton
Homes cost $111k less ($270,700 vs $382,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,417)
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 Stockton by $7,627/yr
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,627 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Violent Crime
43% lower
658.2 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Dallas
Median Home Value
$111k less
$270,700 vs $382,000
Dallas
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$7,627
$71,612 vs $63,985/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 320,030 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 14 and Stockton wins 9. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $382,000 median home), income ($63,985 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Stockton, CA are about 1,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.