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Living in Dallas, TX

Major city in Texas

Dallas is a major city in Texas, home to about 1.3 million people, with 5.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

In short: A huge job market with affordable houses and sprawling suburbs. Car-dependent and hot.

Is Dallas a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 26 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
  • Easy flying: DAL is 6 mi away
  • Big job market: about 5.5 million people live within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Few dog parks: 26 within 9 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Hot summers: highs around 96°F

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Dallas ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
1.3 million
5.5 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
60°F / 96°F
Average daily highs · 2″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$284k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,430/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
103
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 1.66% property tax
Safety
2.3× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
7 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, heat waves
Top-rated hospitals
26
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
37%
3 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
DAL
6 mi away

Living in Dallas: common questions

What is the cost of living in Dallas?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $284k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,430 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 103, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Dallas?

Texas has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 1.66% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Dallas safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.3× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Dallas?

Dallas has mild winters: winter days average around 60°F and summer days around 96°F.

Does Dallas get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, heat waves and tornadoes: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.29 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Dallas?

The nearest major airport is DAL, about 6 mi away.

How Dallas scores

Each bar compares Dallas with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Major metro Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly walkable Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nightlife Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Mild winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Anonymous AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Average
💼Job market Excellent
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Good
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Excellent
🛡️Safety Higher crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Poor
✈️Airport Excellent

Places like Dallas

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

Nearby

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Is Dallas right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.