Dallas vs Waco
Compare Dallas, TX and Waco, TX on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Waco is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $1,042/mo versus $1,409/mo in Dallas — a gap of about $367/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,266/mo against $1,758/mo. Across the four public-data screens Dallas comes out ahead (263 vs 249 summed points), though Waco still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 96°F and 96°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Waco; if walkable daily life matters more, Dallas screens stronger on the walkability proxy (21 vs 6). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Waco leads 72 to 59 on the cost and climate screen.
Dallas leads 80 to 77 on the work screen.
Dallas leads 52 to 42 on the daily life screen.
Dallas leads 72 to 58 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Dallas is roughly $198,333 in Waco using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Dallas | Waco | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,409/mo | $1,042/mo | Waco |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,758/mo | $1,266/mo | Waco |
| Median home value | $299,000 | $190,000 | Waco |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 22.2 min | Waco |
| Safety score | 48/100 | 44/100 | Dallas |
| School score | 8/10 | 5/10 | Dallas |
| Walkability estimate | 21/100 | 6/100 | Dallas |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 198.6 | 188.4 | Dallas |
| Mountain distance | 134 mi | 214 mi | Dallas |
| Coast distance | 234 mi | 176 mi | Waco |
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
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Very hot summers
Waco stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Waco tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Dallas cheaper than Waco?
On public benchmarks Waco is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,409/mo in Dallas vs $1,042/mo in Waco; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,758/mo vs $1,266/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Dallas or Waco safer?
Dallas screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 48/100 for Dallas and 44/100 for Waco (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Dallas or Waco?
School screens show 8/10 for Dallas vs 5/10 for Waco, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Dallas and Waco?
Dallas: summer highs near 96°F, winter lows near 33°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Waco: 96°F / 37°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (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.
Start City Match