Austin vs Dallas
Compare Austin, TX and Dallas, TX on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,529/mo in Austin and $1,409/mo in Dallas, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,924/mo and $1,758/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (273 vs 268 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 97°F and 96°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Austin screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (69 vs 48/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Dallas; if walkable daily life matters more, Dallas screens stronger on the walkability proxy (21 vs 8). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Dallas leads 52 to 49 on the daily life screen.
Austin leads 80 to 72 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Austin is roughly $109,286 in Dallas using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Austin | Dallas | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,529/mo | $1,409/mo | Dallas |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,924/mo | $1,758/mo | Dallas |
| Median home value | $390,000 | $299,000 | Dallas |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 30.4 min | Austin |
| Safety score | 74/100 | 48/100 | Austin |
| School score | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 8/100 | 21/100 | Dallas |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 192.3 | 198.6 | Dallas |
| Mountain distance | 308 mi | 134 mi | Dallas |
| Coast distance | 126 mi | 234 mi | Austin |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 69/100 | 48/100 | Austin |
| Drought risk percentile (NRI) | 63th | 20th | Dallas |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 55th | 22th | Dallas |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 33th | 63th | Austin |
What stands out
Austin stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
Austin tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
- Very hot summers
Dallas stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
Dallas tradeoffs
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Austin cheaper than Dallas?
On public benchmarks Dallas is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,529/mo in Austin vs $1,409/mo in Dallas; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,924/mo vs $1,758/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Austin or Dallas safer?
Austin screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 74/100 for Austin and 48/100 for Dallas (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Austin or Dallas?
School screens show 8/10 for Austin vs 8/10 for Dallas, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Austin and Dallas?
Austin: summer highs near 97°F, winter lows near 38°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Dallas: 96°F / 33°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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