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Living in
Dallas.
About
Life in Dallas
Living in Dallas means embracing a small-town lifestyle just 15 miles west of Salem's job market and urban amenities—close enough for a reasonable commute but far enough to feel genuinely removed from the sprawl. The community skews slightly older and more family-oriented (median age 43.1), with about two-thirds of homes owner-occupied, which tends to create stable, invested neighborhoods where people actually stay put rather than constantly cycle through. Winters here are wet and chilly—expect heavy rain from November through February, with around 17 rainy days a month—but snow is practically nonexistent (averaging just under 5 inches yearly), so you're trading ice for relentless dampness; summers flip the script entirely, bringing warm, dry afternoons and pleasant mornings, though heat spells occasionally push into the 90s and rarely 100s.
Dallas at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.5%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
86.1%
of households
Population Growth
+5.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Dallas: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dallas, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (46.2%), and 4.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.7%
of residents
65 and Older
23.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.6%
of households
Married Couples
49.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% below OR average
Rent, home values, and income in Dallas
In Dallas, rent runs 21% below the OR average, and home values are 19% below the OR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,935
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $473,440 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OR
Unemployment in Dallas
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Dallas, is close to the OR average.
Unemployment rate
Dallas: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Dallas Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.1 min avg
How Dallas residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dallas, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field (SLE)
Regional airport · few flights11k passengers boarded in 2025
- 58 mi
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Medium hub9.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 30% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dallas runs 30% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
231.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,322.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dallas Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
72.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Dallas, the most common type is flood, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 6 | Flood | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2022 | 2 | Flood | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 2 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marion County, OR (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 36 miles from Dallas) is typically good — 292 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
292
per year
Moderate Days
73
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Marion County, OR (36 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dallas has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/51°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.4"
Annual Snowfall
9.6"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
49
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
162
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 35°F | 7.48" |
| Feb | 51°F | 36°F | 5.56" |
| Mar | 56°F | 38°F | 5.08" |
| Apr | 61°F | 40°F | 3.71" |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 2.36" |
| Jun | 73°F | 49°F | 1.49" |
| Jul | 83°F | 52°F | 0.31" |
| Aug | 83°F | 52°F | 0.47" |
| Sep | 78°F | 49°F | 1.60" |
| Oct | 65°F | 44°F | 3.80" |
| Nov | 52°F | 38°F | 7.18" |
| Dec | 46°F | 35°F | 8.74" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dallas
Dallas has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
Salem Health West Valley
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Salem Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.7 mi away · Salem
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dallas
Dallas's student/teacher ratio is 17.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 22.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Dallas (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 3,103 students · in-state tuition $12,087 · 55% graduate · median earnings $56,475 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,592 students · in-state tuition $54,224 · 74% graduate · median earnings $62,275 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 58 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dallas
Dallas has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (58 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
58 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dallas
Dallas Public Library
950 Main St, Dallas
Cities Near Dallas
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dallas?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dallas FAQ
Is Dallas, Oregon affordable?⌄
Dallas's median rent is $1,209/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $71,549/year. Median home value is $389,100.
Is Dallas, Oregon safe?⌄
Dallas's violent crime rate was 231 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1323 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dallas, Oregon?⌄
Polk County, which includes Dallas, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dallas, Oregon?⌄
The cost of living in Dallas is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,209/month and median household income is $71,549/year. The median home value is $389,100. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dallas, Oregon?⌄
The average commute in Dallas is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from