Is Dallas cheaper than Seattle?

Yes. Typical rent in Dallas is $1,472 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 27% cheaper. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Dallas or Seattle?

Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 116 in Seattle — 6% 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 Seattle?

Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Dallas — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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City comparison

Dallas, TX vs Seattle, WA

Dallas, TX versus Seattle, WA 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 $2,030 in Seattle, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $123,860. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Dallas takes affordability and safety, while Seattle takes job market, schools, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Seattle leads by 88% — 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 Seattle do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Dallas and Seattle reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Dallas report Full Seattle report

Dallas, TX

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

Seattle, WA

Rent: $2,030/mo
Median income: $123,860
Crime index: 116
Schools: A
Weather: 66°F

Rent

27% cheaper

Dallas rent is 27% cheaper than Seattle

Dallas

Winner

$1,472/mo

Seattle

$2,030/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Dallas is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $558/month back in your pocket — $6,696/year. Over five years that's $33,480 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Seattle, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Dallas is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

76% higher

Seattle's median income is 76% higher than Dallas

Dallas

$70,518

Seattle

Winner

$123,860

What this means for your life

Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 76% higher in Seattle — about $53,342 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, Seattle 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

6% lower crime

Dallas's crime index is 6% lower than Seattle

Dallas

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

Seattle

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Dallas's crime index is 109 versus 116 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Dallas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Dallas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Seattle. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

5% higher scores

Seattle's school scores are 5% higher than Dallas

Dallas

A- · 84/100

Seattle

Winner

A · 88/100

What this means for your life

Seattle grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Dallas — school scores run 5% higher in Seattle. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Dallas is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

88% more comfortable

Seattle weather is 88% more comfortable than Dallas

Dallas

91°F typical

Seattle

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Seattle scores 88% 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 66°F in Seattle. Dallas reads as hot, long summers; Seattle reads as mild, livable temperatures. 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. Seattle 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 27% 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 6% lower than Seattle (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 Seattle

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 76% higher ($123,860), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Parents — or anyone planning kids in the next few years — should weight Seattle first. School scores run 5% higher (A vs A-). Dallas only wins the school argument if you already have a specific campus in mind that beats this composite.

Open the Seattle report →

Bottom line

Dallas vs Seattle, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Dallas vs Seattle FAQ

Is Dallas cheaper than Seattle?: Yes. Typical rent in Dallas is $1,472 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 27% cheaper. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Dallas or Seattle?: Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 116 in Seattle — 6% 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 Seattle?: Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Dallas — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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