Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($270,700 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $857/mo less ($1,305 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $47,732/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
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,732 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Dallas
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Dallas
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Home Value
$347k less
$270,700 vs $617,300
Dallas
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 93.2°F
Tracy
Median Income
$47,732
$111,717 vs $63,985/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
54% lower
301.4 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Tracy, 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 | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.0% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 13 and Tracy wins 10. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $617,300 median home), income ($63,985 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Tracy, CA are about 1,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.