Austin, TX vs Dallas, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | AustinAustin, TX | DallasDallas, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | High Autonomy | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 2.1 people per household, Austin, TX and Dallas, TX differ most sharply in housing costs and income, with 2023 Census figures showing Austin’s median home value at $512,700 versus Dallas’s $295,300, a 74% gap that places Austin in the 83rd percentile and Dallas in the 54th. Median household income follows the same pattern: $91,461 in Austin (71st percentile) against $67,760 in Dallas (43rd percentile), a 35% difference. The comfortable income for a single person in Austin is $99,609, compared to $57,371 in Dallas, while for a family of four the figures are $146,425 and $84,336, respectively—both 74% higher in Austin.
Unemployment runs lower in Austin at 3.5% versus Dallas’s 4.2%, a 0.7-point gap, though job growth is nearly flat in both places, at -0.1% and -0.6% year over year. Dallas is 34% larger by population, with 1,299,553 residents against Austin’s 967,862, and denser at 3,826 people per square mile versus 2,978. Average household size in Dallas is 2.4, 14% larger than Austin’s 2.1, placing Dallas in the 49th percentile and Austin in the 13th.
Geographic positioning also separates the two: Dallas sits 337 miles from the international border, 72% farther than Austin’s 196 miles, with Dallas in the 51st percentile and Austin in the 22nd. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 577 in Dallas versus 418 in Austin, a 38% higher rate in Dallas, while property crime is identical at 3,077 in both. Commutes average 24 minutes in Austin and 26 minutes in Dallas, and work-from-home rates are 27.5% in Austin against 14.0% in Dallas.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15881st pctl | 11458th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Austin, TX 158; Dallas, TX 114; Austin is 39% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $512,70083rd pctl | $295,30054th pctl | Median home value: Austin, TX $512,700; Dallas, TX $295,300; Austin is 74% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65578th pctl | $1,40364th pctl | Median rent: Austin, TX $1,655; Dallas, TX $1,403; Austin is 18% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,46171st pctl | $67,76043rd pctl | Median household income: Austin, TX $91,461; Dallas, TX $67,760; Austin is 35% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,60985th pctl | $57,37155th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Austin, TX $99,609; Dallas, TX $57,371; Austin is 74% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $146,42585th pctl | $84,33655th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Austin, TX $146,425; Dallas, TX $84,336; Austin is 74% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Austin, TX C-; Dallas, TX B+; Dallas is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Dallas needs about
$54,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 158 vs 114). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 4.2%74th pctl | Unemployment: Austin, TX 3.5%; Dallas, TX 4.2%; Dallas is 0.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.1%19th pctl | -0.6%11th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $59,42787th pctl | $44,13866th pctl | Per-capita income: Austin, TX $59,427; Dallas, TX $44,138; Austin is 35% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.3%54th pctl | 17.2%74th pctl | Poverty rate: Austin, TX 12.3%; Dallas, TX 17.2%; Dallas is 4.9 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24 min54th pctl | 26 min67th pctl | Average commute: Austin, TX 24 min; Dallas, TX 26 min; Dallas is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 27.5%94th pctl | 14.0%67th pctl | Work from home: Austin, TX 27.5%; Dallas, TX 14.0%; Austin is 13.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | Economic opportunity: Austin, TX B-; Dallas, TX C; Austin is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 41880th pctl | 57789th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Austin, TX 418; Dallas, TX 577; Dallas is 38% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07792nd pctl | 3,07793rd pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Austin, TX C-; Dallas, TX A-; Dallas is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Austin, TX.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Texas, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Texas →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 2 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Austin, TX 2 mi; Dallas, TX 2 mi; Austin is 10% higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Austin, TX F; Dallas, TX C+; Dallas is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 196 mi22nd pctl | 337 mi51st pctl | Distance to international border: Austin, TX 196 mi; Dallas, TX 337 mi; Dallas is 72% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 155 mi37th pctl | 236 mi47th pctl | Distance to coastline: Austin, TX 155 mi; Dallas, TX 236 mi; Dallas is 53% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 967,862100th pctl | 1,299,553100th pctl | Population: Austin, TX 967,862; Dallas, TX 1,299,553; Dallas is 34% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,97877th pctl | 3,82685th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Austin, TX 2,978; Dallas, TX 3,826; Dallas is 28% higher. |
| Median age | 34.522nd pctl | 33.416th pctl | Median age: Austin, TX 34.5; Dallas, TX 33.4; Austin is 1.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2%87th pctl | 37.4%62nd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Austin, TX 58.2%; Dallas, TX 37.4%; Austin is 20.8 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.113th pctl | 2.449th pctl | Average household size: Austin, TX 2.1; Dallas, TX 2.4; Dallas is 14% larger. |
More about Austin's residents · Dallas's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Austin and Dallas
- Median rent: $1,655 in Austin, $1,403 in Dallas
- Median home value: $512,700 in Austin, $295,300 in Dallas
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 158 in Austin, 114 in Dallas
- Median household income: $91,461 in Austin, $67,760 in Dallas
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $146,425 in Austin, $84,336 in Dallas
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Austin, 4.2% in Dallas
- Average commute: 24 min in Austin, 26 min in Dallas
- Violent crime per 100k: 418 in Austin, 577 in Dallas
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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