Dallas, TX vs San Antonio, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | DallasDallas, TX | San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| 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
At 337 mi from the international border, Dallas, TX sits farther from it than San Antonio, TX, whose distance is 127 mi, a 2.7× difference in the 2023 ReloMaps strategic assessment. Job growth over the past year also diverges: Dallas posted -0.6% while San Antonio gained +1.0%, a 1.6-point gap. Per-capita income in Dallas reaches $44,138 versus $32,983 in San Antonio, 34% higher, and the comfortable income for a single person is $57,371 in Dallas compared with $42,684 in San Antonio, also 34% higher. For a family of 4, the comfortable income runs $84,336 in Dallas and $62,745 in San Antonio, again 34% higher.
Educational attainment separates the two as well: 37.4% of Dallas adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, while San Antonio’s share is 28.7%, an 8.7-point difference. Average household size tilts the other way, with San Antonio at 2.6 and Dallas at 2.4, an 8% larger figure. In the 2023 Census data, Dallas carries a cost-of-living index of 114 (the 58th percentile) versus 96 for San Antonio (the 45th percentile), and median home values are $295,300 and $219,700, respectively. Median rent stands at $1,403 in Dallas and $1,258 in San Antonio. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 577 in Dallas and 528 in San Antonio, while property crime runs 3,077 in Dallas and 3,909 in San Antonio, 27% higher there.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Dallas or San Antonio?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Dallas, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 11458th pctl | 9645th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Dallas, TX 114; San Antonio, TX 96; Dallas is 19% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $295,30054th pctl | $219,70034th pctl | Median home value: Dallas, TX $295,300; San Antonio, TX $219,700; Dallas is 34% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,40364th pctl | $1,25854th pctl | Median rent: Dallas, TX $1,403; San Antonio, TX $1,258; Dallas is 12% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $67,76043rd pctl | $62,91734th pctl | Median household income: Dallas, TX $67,760; San Antonio, TX $62,917; Dallas is 8% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $57,37155th pctl | $42,68434th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Dallas, TX $57,371; San Antonio, TX $42,684; Dallas is 34% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $84,33655th pctl | $62,74534th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Dallas, TX $84,336; San Antonio, TX $62,745; Dallas is 34% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | Housing affordability: Dallas, TX B+; San Antonio, TX A+; San Antonio is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in San Antonio needs about
$63,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 114 vs 96). 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 | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.2%74th pctl | 3.9%62nd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.6%11th pctl | +1.0%46th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Dallas, TX -0.6%; San Antonio, TX +1.0%; San Antonio is 1.6 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $44,13866th pctl | $32,98332nd pctl | Per-capita income: Dallas, TX $44,138; San Antonio, TX $32,983; Dallas is 34% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 17.2%74th pctl | 17.1%73rd pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 26 min67th pctl | 24.6 min58th pctl | Average commute: Dallas, TX 26 min; San Antonio, TX 24.6 min; Dallas is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 14.0%67th pctl | 11.8%57th pctl | Work from home: Dallas, TX 14.0%; San Antonio, TX 11.8%; Dallas is 2.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Dallas, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 57789th pctl | 52887th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Dallas, TX 577; San Antonio, TX 528; Dallas is 9% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07793rd pctl | 3,90997th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Dallas, TX 3,077; San Antonio, TX 3,909; San Antonio is 27% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Dallas, TX F; San Antonio, TX D; San Antonio is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty 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 | Dallas, TX | San Antonio, 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 | Clean | Poor | Tap water: Dallas, TX A-; San Antonio, TX F; 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 San Antonio, 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 | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 3 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Dallas, TX 2 mi; San Antonio, TX 3 mi; San Antonio is 48% higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Dallas, TX C+; San Antonio, TX D-; Dallas is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 337 mi51st pctl | 127 mi14th pctl | Distance to international border: Dallas, TX 337 mi; San Antonio, TX 127 mi; Dallas is 2.7 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 236 mi47th pctl | 133 mi33rd pctl | Distance to coastline: Dallas, TX 236 mi; San Antonio, TX 133 mi; Dallas is 77% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Dallas, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,299,553100th pctl | 1,458,954100th pctl | Population: Dallas, TX 1,299,553; San Antonio, TX 1,458,954; San Antonio is 12% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,82685th pctl | 2,87976th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Dallas, TX 3,826; San Antonio, TX 2,879; Dallas is 33% higher. |
| Median age | 33.416th pctl | 34.623rd pctl | Median age: Dallas, TX 33.4; San Antonio, TX 34.6; San Antonio is 1.2 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.4%62nd pctl | 28.7%41st pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Dallas, TX 37.4%; San Antonio, TX 28.7%; Dallas is 8.7 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.449th pctl | 2.670th pctl | Average household size: Dallas, TX 2.4; San Antonio, TX 2.6; San Antonio is 8% larger. |
More about Dallas's residents · San Antonio's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | DallasDallas, TX | San AntonioSan Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+19 | D+19 |
| 2024 presidential | D +34.0 pts | D +34.0 pts |
Full politics data: Dallas · San Antonio
Moving between Dallas and San Antonio
- Median rent: $1,403 in Dallas, $1,258 in San Antonio
- Median home value: $295,300 in Dallas, $219,700 in San Antonio
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 114 in Dallas, 96 in San Antonio
- Median household income: $67,760 in Dallas, $62,917 in San Antonio
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $84,336 in Dallas, $62,745 in San Antonio
- Unemployment: 4.2% in Dallas, 3.9% in San Antonio
- Average commute: 26 min in Dallas, 24.6 min in San Antonio
- Violent crime per 100k: 577 in Dallas, 528 in San Antonio
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Dallas and San Antonio against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Dallas or San Antonio?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
People also compare
More places like Dallas and San Antonio
- 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.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.