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Living in
Dallas.
About
Life in Dallas
If you're considering Dallas, understand upfront that you're looking at a sprawling, car-dependent city that demands you embrace the heat for half the year—but rewards you with a genuinely diverse job market, reasonable housing costs compared to other major metros, and neighborhoods with real character. The economy here is genuinely diversified: finance, defense, tech, telecommunications, and transportation all have major presences, with 11 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in city limits, which translates to stable employment and constant hiring. Your commute will average 26 minutes thanks to the Interstate convergence and DART transit system, though you'll quickly learn that Dallas spreads across nearly 386 square miles, so where you land matters—Deep Ellum and Swiss Avenue offer walkable history and architecture, the Bishop Arts District buzzes with younger creatives, while Lake Highlands provides solid middle-class stability if you want less hustle.
Dallas at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Foreign-Born
23.4%
Broadband Internet
90.9%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.4% 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 (51.8%), and 34.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
11.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.4%
of households
Married Couples
34.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.42
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 about average for TX
Rent, home values, and income in Dallas
In Dallas, home values are 13% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,075
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $303,442 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Dallas
Unemployment in Dallas is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Dallas Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.7 min avg
How Dallas residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dallas, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 16 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M 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 75% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dallas runs 75% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
576.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,077
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dallas Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 36 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dallas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dallas County, which includes Dallas, the most common type is hail, with 36 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | Flash Flood | $4.2M |
| 2024 | 34 | Flash Flood | $5.4M |
| 2023 | 33 | Hail | $2.4M |
| 2022 | 34 | Drought | $1351.6M |
| 2021 | 27 | Hail | $7.0M |
| 2020 | 24 | Hail | $95,000 |
| 2019 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1970.5M |
| 2018 | 18 | Flash Flood | $991,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dallas County, county-wide
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dallas County, which includes Dallas, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
148
per year
Moderate Days
206
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Dallas County, county-wide
Climate96°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dallas has hot summers (avg high 96°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/57°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
96°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.4"
Annual Snowfall
1.7"
Hot Days/Year
108
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
23
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
82
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 38°F | 2.59" |
| Feb | 62°F | 42°F | 2.78" |
| Mar | 70°F | 49°F | 3.45" |
| Apr | 77°F | 57°F | 3.15" |
| May | 85°F | 66°F | 4.57" |
| Jun | 93°F | 74°F | 3.83" |
| Jul | 97°F | 78°F | 1.71" |
| Aug | 97°F | 77°F | 2.19" |
| Sep | 90°F | 70°F | 3.10" |
| Oct | 80°F | 59°F | 4.79" |
| Nov | 68°F | 48°F | 2.93" |
| Dec | 59°F | 40°F | 3.23" |
Healthcare18 hospitals, avg 3.4/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dallas
Dallas has 18 hospitals, averaging 3.4 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
18
within city limits
Uninsured
22.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.4 / 5
Baylor Scott & White Heart & Vascular Hospital - Dallas
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Baylor University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ut of Texas Southwestern University Hospital - William P. Clements Jr.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Ut of Texas Southwestern University Hospital - William P. Clements Jr. · 6201 Harry Hines Blvd
- Outpatient center: Texas Behavioral Health Center · 4855 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Dallas Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.7 mi away · Mesquite
Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Dallas
Psychiatric · 10.2 mi away · Garland
Dallas Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.3 mi away · Dallas
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dallas
Dallas's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
348
within city limits
Private Schools
87
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Dallas
Public · 2-year · 43,869 students · in-state tuition $2,970 · 26% graduate · median earnings $44,572 (10 yrs after entry)
University of North Texas at Dallas
Public · 4-year · 2,878 students · in-state tuition $9,601 · 57% graduate
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,403 students · in-state tuition $41,870 · 55% graduate · median earnings $58,159 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 620 students · in-state tuition $16,248 · 30% graduate · median earnings $37,049 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 607 students · in-state tuition $18,523 · 71% graduate · median earnings $56,771 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Private for-profit · 4-year · 588 students · in-state tuition $24,600 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 454 students · in-state tuition $17,640 · 73% graduate · median earnings $43,899 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 252 students · in-state tuition $17,692 · 53% graduate · median earnings $45,911 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
The University of Texas at Dallas
13.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 21,751 students · in-state tuition $14,664 · 74% graduate · median earnings $74,762 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,277 students · in-state tuition $69,722 · 82% graduate · median earnings $90,037 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 2,293 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 15% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,403 students · in-state tuition $56,630 · 66% graduate · median earnings $64,930 (10 yrs after entry)
Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online
13.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,219 students · in-state tuition $14,520 · median earnings $61,376 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Dallas
14.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 1,153 students · in-state tuition $18,740 · median earnings $69,188 (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: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 86 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dallas
Dallas has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (86 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dallas
Dallas Public Library
1515 Young St, Dallas
Arcadia Park Branch Library
1302 N Justin Ave, Dallas
Audelia Road Branch Library
10045 Audelia Rd, Dallas
Bachman Lake Branch Library
9480 Webb Chapel Rd, Dallas
Bookmarks @ Northpark Center
8687 N Central Expy Ste 1514, Dallas
Dallas West Branch Library
2332 Singleton Blvd, Dallas
Forest Green Branch Library
9619 Greenville Ave, Dallas
Fretz Park Branch Library
6990 Belt Line Rd, Dallas
Grauwyler Park Branch Library
2146 Gilford St, Dallas
Hampton-Illinois Branch Library
2951 S Hampton Rd, Dallas
Highland Hills Branch Library
6200 Bonnie View Rd, Dallas
Kleberg-Rylie Branch Library
1301 Edd Rd, Dallas
Compare Dallas
Popular side-by-side matchups
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, Texas affordable?⌄
Dallas's median rent is $1,472/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $70,518/year. Median home value is $320,700.
Is Dallas, Texas safe?⌄
Dallas's violent crime rate was 577 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3077 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dallas, Texas?⌄
Dallas has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dallas, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Dallas is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,472/month and median household income is $70,518/year. The median home value is $320,700. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dallas, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Dallas is 26 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