City comparison
Providence, RI versus Dallas, TX 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 $1,408 a month in Providence and $1,472 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $68,119 versus $70,518. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Providence takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Providence leads by 108% — 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 Providence can feel further apart than Providence and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Providence and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Providence, RI
Dallas, TX
Rent
4% cheaper
Providence rent is 4% cheaper than Dallas
Providence
Winner$1,408/mo
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,408 a month in Providence versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Providence is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $64, or $768 a year — noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Median income
4% higher
Dallas's median income is 4% higher than Providence
Providence
$68,119
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $68,119 in Providence, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Dallas — about $2,399 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
71% lower crime
Providence's crime index is 71% lower than Dallas
Providence
Winner32 (100 = avg)
Dallas
109 (100 = avg)
Providence's crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Providence. 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, Providence is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
School scores
Neck and neck
Providence and Dallas are about even on school scores.
Providence
A- · 84/100
Dallas
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Providence, A- in Dallas). 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
108% more comfortable
Providence weather is 108% more comfortable than Dallas
Providence
Winner70°F typical
Dallas
91°F typical
Providence scores 108% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 70°F in Providence and 91°F in Dallas. Providence reads as mild, livable temperatures; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. 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. Providence 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Providence is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,408 a month. Choose Providence if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Providence if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 108%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but Providence is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Providence is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Dallas (32 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($70,518). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
If weather is your priority, Providence is the clear choice.
If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Providence offers the better overall package.
Common questions
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