Is Dallas cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Dallas is $1,472 a month versus $1,831 in Denver — 20% cheaper. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas compared with $94,718 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Dallas or Denver?

Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 137 in Denver — 20% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Dallas or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Dallas and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Dallas, TX vs Denver, CO

Dallas, TX versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,472 a month in Dallas and $1,831 in Denver, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $94,718. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Dallas takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Denver leads by 67% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Dallas can feel further apart than Dallas and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Dallas and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Dallas report Full Denver report

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $1,831/mo
Median income: $94,718
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

20% cheaper

Dallas rent is 20% cheaper than Denver

Dallas

Winner

$1,472/mo

Denver

$1,831/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,831 in Denver, so Dallas is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,308 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

34% higher

Denver's median income is 34% higher than Dallas

Dallas

$70,518

Denver

Winner

$94,718

What this means for your life

Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Denver — about $24,200 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

20% lower crime

Dallas's crime index is 20% lower than Denver

Dallas

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Dallas's crime index is 109 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Dallas. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Dallas is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Dallas and Denver are about even on school scores.

Dallas

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Dallas, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

67% more comfortable

Denver weather is 67% more comfortable than Dallas

Dallas

91°F typical

Denver

Winner

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 67% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Dallas and 78°F in Denver. Dallas reads as hot, long summers; Denver reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Denver is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Denver (109 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Dallas report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 34% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 78°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Dallas vs Denver, called

If weather is your priority, Denver is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Dallas offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Dallas vs Denver FAQ

Is Dallas cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Dallas is $1,472 a month versus $1,831 in Denver — 20% cheaper. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas compared with $94,718 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Dallas or Denver?: Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 137 in Denver — 20% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Dallas or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Dallas and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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