Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($270,700 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $749/mo less ($1,305 vs $2,054)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $32,234/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
West Covina, CA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $32,234 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Dallas
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Home Value
$394k less
$270,700 vs $664,500
Dallas
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.7% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$32,234
$96,219 vs $63,985/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
64% lower
239.3 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 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 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 12 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $664,500 median home), income ($63,985 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and West Covina, CA are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.