Dallas, TX vs Roanoke, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | DallasDallas, TX | RoanokeRoanoke, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | High Autonomy | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
1,299,553 people live in Dallas, TX, while Roanoke, TX counts 9,947 residents, a gap that places Dallas in the 100th percentile for population and Roanoke in the 30th. The two cities also diverge sharply on poverty: Dallas reports a 17.2% poverty rate, 15.0 points higher than Roanoke’s 2.2%, with Dallas in the 74th percentile and Roanoke in the 3rd. Median age differs by 5.5 years, with Dallas at 33.4 years (16th percentile) and Roanoke at 38.9 years (57th percentile), per 2023 Census figures.
Crime figures from 2025 show Dallas with 577 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 5.9× higher than Roanoke’s 98, and 3,077 property crimes per 100,000, 3.6× higher than Roanoke’s 857. Dallas sits in the 89th percentile for violent crime and the 93rd for property crime, while Roanoke ranks in the 19th and 26th percentiles, respectively. Traffic deaths follow the same pattern: Dallas records 18 per 100,000, 2.8× higher than Roanoke’s 6, with Dallas in the 57th percentile and Roanoke in the 10th.
Job growth over the past year moved in opposite directions, with Dallas at -0.6% and Roanoke at +2.0%, a 2.6-point gap that places Dallas in the 11th percentile and Roanoke in the 76th. Unemployment runs close, at 4.2% in Dallas versus 3.8% in Roanoke. Median household income also differs substantially, at $67,760 in Dallas (43rd percentile) and $100,986 in Roanoke (78th percentile), while the cost-of-living index stands at 114 for Dallas and 158 for Roanoke, 39% higher in the latter.
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 | Dallas, TX | Roanoke, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 11458th pctl | 15881st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Dallas, TX 114; Roanoke, TX 158; Roanoke is 39% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $295,30054th pctl | $454,50078th pctl | Median home value: Dallas, TX $295,300; Roanoke, TX $454,500; Roanoke is 54% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,40364th pctl | $1,81486th pctl | Median rent: Dallas, TX $1,403; Roanoke, TX $1,814; Roanoke is 29% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $67,76043rd pctl | $100,98678th pctl | Median household income: Dallas, TX $67,760; Roanoke, TX $100,986; Roanoke is 49% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $57,37154th pctl | $88,30180th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Dallas, TX $57,371; Roanoke, TX $88,301; Roanoke is 54% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $84,33654th pctl | $129,80380th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Dallas, TX $84,336; Roanoke, TX $129,803; Roanoke is 54% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Roanoke needs about
$103,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 114 vs 158). 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 | Dallas, TX | Roanoke, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.2%74th pctl | 3.8%57th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.6%10th pctl | +2.0%76th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Dallas, TX -0.6%; Roanoke, TX +2.0%; Roanoke is 2.6 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $44,13866th pctl | $59,99087th pctl | Per-capita income: Dallas, TX $44,138; Roanoke, TX $59,990; Roanoke is 36% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 17.2%74th pctl | 2.2%3rd pctl | Poverty rate: Dallas, TX 17.2%; Roanoke, TX 2.2%; Dallas is 15.0 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 26 min67th pctl | 27 min74th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 14.0%67th pctl | 19.6%82nd pctl | Work from home: Dallas, TX 14.0%; Roanoke, TX 19.6%; Roanoke is 5.6 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | Economic opportunity: Dallas, TX C; Roanoke, TX C+; Roanoke is graded higher. |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Dallas, TX B-; Roanoke, TX A-; Roanoke is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Roanoke, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 57789th pctl | 9819th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Dallas, TX 577; Roanoke, TX 98; Dallas is 5.9 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07793rd pctl | 85726th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Dallas, TX 3,077; Roanoke, TX 857; Dallas is 3.6 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Safe | Crime & safety: Dallas, TX F; Roanoke, TX B+; Roanoke is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Dallas, TX B-; Roanoke, TX A+; Roanoke is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Roanoke, 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. | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Dallas, TX A; Roanoke, TX B; Dallas is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| 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 Roanoke, 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 | Dallas, TX | Roanoke, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 19 mi24th pctl | Nearest large city: Dallas, TX 2 mi; Roanoke, TX 19 mi; Roanoke is 9.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Fair | Target proximity: Dallas, TX C+; Roanoke, TX B; Roanoke is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 337 mi51st pctl | 329 mi50th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 236 mi47th pctl | 262 mi51st pctl | Distance to coastline: Dallas, TX 236 mi; Roanoke, TX 262 mi; Roanoke is 11% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Roanoke, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,299,553100th pctl | 9,94730th pctl | Population: Dallas, TX 1,299,553; Roanoke, TX 9,947; Dallas is 1,289,606 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,82685th pctl | 1,45344th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Dallas, TX 3,826; Roanoke, TX 1,453; Dallas is 2.6 times higher. |
| Median age | 33.416th pctl | 38.957th pctl | Median age: Dallas, TX 33.4; Roanoke, TX 38.9; Roanoke is 5.5 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.4%62nd pctl | 47.5%76th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Dallas, TX 37.4%; Roanoke, TX 47.5%; Roanoke is 10.1 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.449th pctl | 2.554th pctl | About the same |
More about Dallas's residents · Roanoke'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 Dallas and Roanoke
- Median rent: $1,403 in Dallas, $1,814 in Roanoke
- Median home value: $295,300 in Dallas, $454,500 in Roanoke
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 114 in Dallas, 158 in Roanoke
- Median household income: $67,760 in Dallas, $100,986 in Roanoke
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $84,336 in Dallas, $129,803 in Roanoke
- Unemployment: 4.2% in Dallas, 3.8% in Roanoke
- Average commute: 26 min in Dallas, 27 min in Roanoke
- Violent crime per 100k: 577 in Dallas, 98 in Roanoke
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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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