Dallas vs Denver
Compare Dallas, TX and Denver, CO on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Dallas is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $1,409/mo versus $1,706/mo in Denver — a gap of about $297/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,758/mo against $2,201/mo. State income tax also separates them — Dallas's rate is roughly 0% versus 4.4%. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (268 vs 268 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Dallas runs summer highs near 96°F and winter lows near 33°F, while Denver runs 89°F and 16°F. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Denver screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (66 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 20). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Dallas leads 64 to 51 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Denver leads 64 to 52 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Dallas is roughly $62,371 in Denver using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Dallas | Denver | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,409/mo | $1,706/mo | Dallas |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,758/mo | $2,201/mo | Dallas |
| Median home value | $299,000 | $519,000 | Dallas |
| State income tax | None | 4.4% | Dallas |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 29.7 min | Denver |
| Safety score | 48/100 | 60/100 | Denver |
| School score | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 21/100 | 20/100 | Dallas |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 9/10 | Denver |
| Restaurants per 100k | 198.6 | 197.0 | Dallas |
| Mountain distance | 134 mi | 10 mi | Denver |
| Coast distance | 234 mi | 745 mi | Dallas |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 48/100 | 66/100 | Denver |
| Heat wave risk percentile (NRI) | 95th | 3th | Denver |
| Hurricane risk percentile (NRI) | 44th | 0th | Denver |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 63th | 22th | Denver |
What stands out
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
Denver stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 20 miles
Denver tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
Common questions
Is Dallas cheaper than Denver?
On public benchmarks Dallas is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,409/mo in Dallas vs $1,706/mo in Denver; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,758/mo vs $2,201/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 4.4%.
Is Dallas or Denver safer?
Denver screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 48/100 for Dallas and 60/100 for Denver (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Dallas or Denver?
School screens show 8/10 for Dallas vs 8/10 for Denver, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Dallas and Denver?
Dallas: summer highs near 96°F, winter lows near 33°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Denver: 89°F / 16°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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