Everything is big in Texas, they say. But when it comes to city rivalries, two cities always make the most significant headline – Dallas and Houston. These cities are often compared and are the biggest rivals in Texas and the United States.
Houston and Dallas are cities in Texas that are more than 240 miles apart. They may be near each other, but both towns developed differently. Dallas is not the same as Houston, while Houston significantly sets itself apart from Dallas.
Yet, deciding which city to choose may need more pondering. Since they are distinct, we should also highlight critical differences and similarities.
Dallas is known for its full-swing Southern charm and has plenty to love about. It has top schools, a good job market, and a fantastic food scene. You would appreciate living in Dallas and would decide to stay.
On the other side, Houston is excellent for ethnic diversity, with many cultures to offer and explore. Along with its more than 620 miles of land, it has a thriving job market that attracts people to live.
With these, both cities can be great places to live. It is up to the individual preferences which city is better or worse. Thus, we are here to dig deeper into how much Dallas and Houston rival each other.
List of Contents
Is Dallas or Houston Better to live in?
Choosing which city is better, Dallas or Houston, is tricky. For one, they are both Texan cities. We can assume that they are both cities that only exhibit Texan characters.
However, there is much to learn about Dallas and Houston, revealing how unique each is. By then, we can choose between Dallas and Houston as the better place to live.
Living in Dallas
Opportunities
Dallas is becoming Texas’s largest state and the 4th largest metro area in the United States. The growth is due to the housing projects and the construction of its public rail system.
It is a booming city in Texas with plenty of jobs to offer. There are construction projects in the city with the potential to become great. The town is economically developing, with career opportunities and job creation at hand.
Activities and entertainment
Dallas exhibits competitive businesses with the possibility of making the city bigger. In terms of activities and entertainment, the city has plenty of offerings. Aside from the authentic and charming Dallas neighborhood, it is now a commercial hub.
You will observe malls lining up in the busy areas of the city. There are corporate office parks, construction sites, and billboards demonstrating massive development.
Global megacity
The blend of a Texan town vibe and sprawling commercial spaces make Dallas an excellent place to live. It has a character that some Texan cities like San Antonio lack.
It is now leading to becoming a megacity in the future. It creates opportunities for people considering moving to Dallas.
Diversity
Houston may be known to be culturally diverse. Yet, Dallas is leaning towards more considerable diversity, as well. As the city progress, it attracts more people and demography. Dallas has an equitable share of whites, blacks, Asians, and Hispanics.
This demography shares a more significant percentage of immigrants in Dallas. They are widespread across the city, as well.
Living in Houston
Charming neighborhood
Dallas and Houston may be similar in size, but urban planning varies. Commercial sites and construction may be observable in Dallas; Houston is different. Even though it is a booming city, it remains unique among other cities in Texas.
It is more tasteful and exciting than Dallas in terms of neighborhood. You can see the charm and urban character, making them attractive among dwellers. Several neighborhoods are separated from the city center.
Emerging City
Houston has a reputation for being the best city in Texas and is comparable to Los Angeles, San Diego, or Miami. Yet, it is still distinct. Compared to these cities with zoning codes, Houston does not have one.
Meaning there are surprises in the city where anything can happen. In this way, Houston can uniquely develop in comparison to others.
Culture
The city of Houston is diverse in Texas. It embraces various ethnicity and cultures. You would see the city’s pride and colorful celebration of life from the graffiti walls. Downtown Houston is also exciting, with lots of fun things to do and see.
Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Dallas?
It is cheaper to live in Houston than in Dallas. The living expenses in Dallas are higher compared to Houston. There is a 7% difference in both cities’ cost of living.
If you need $43,000 to live comfortably in Houston, you must earn $50,000 to maintain that same standard in Dallas. Here is the cost of living comparison:
- Housing cost is 28% lower in Houston
- Transportation is only 1% lower in Houston
- Food is 12% lower in Houston
- Healthcare is 15% lower in Houston
Based on this comparison, housing cost impacts the price difference between the two. The 28% variant showed more affordable real estate in Houston. The reason behind this is that Houston has a considerable amount of land. There are housing projects in the city that provides reasonable housing rates.
The land is converted to commercial hubs and business centers compared to Dallas. You will observe an influx of large companies in Dallas. Meaning less area is converted to housing and residential sites. More people will compete to get affordable housing in Dallas than in Houston. The city must build housing at a slower rate because commercial hubs are the priority.
Is Dallas expensive to live in?
In this comparison, we might suggest that Dallas may be expensive. Many would assume you need to earn more to live comfortably in Dallas.
Houston is cheaper, but Dallas is still an affordable place to live. Compared to other major cities in the US, Dallas is still not an expensive city to live in.
Thus, here are the things you should know when you choose to move to Dallas:
State income tax no more.
When you move to Dallas, you can save ample money by not allotting it to state income. Like all cities in Texas, you would enjoy the perks of having no state income. However, if you are a real estate owner, property tax can be huge, though. Sales tax tends to be higher than the national average, as well.
Reasonable salary rate
Even though you need to pay more in sales tax, Dallas provides a competitive salary package. The cost of living in Dallas is well-compensated by the salary you receive at work.
Affordable food and restaurants
Some restaurants in Dallas may be a bit expensive, with drinks ranging from $15 a pop. Yet, there is still a wide selection of affordable food and restaurants in the city. You can have your favorite Tex-Mex in Dallas without worrying about the price.
Cheap gasoline
To have better mobility in Dallas, you need to get a private car. On the bright side, you can avoid paying high gasoline prices. In Dallas, gas is cheap. You can save more money without paying for costly gasoline.
On the other side, you need to allot more money for car insurance in the city. You have to pay premium insurance in Dallas compared to other cities in the United States. The cost can reach up to $2,000. Yes, it is more than the national average.
High-quality public education
If you are moving with your family to Dallas, you can save ample money from public education. You can send your kiddos to schools and still get a top-notch education. In this way, you can pay premium prices for education. The city of Dallas already provided it for your kids.
Is Dallas safer than Houston?
Dallas is safer than Houston. The city of Dallas is cleaner, safer, and well-organized. Dallas is implementing strict zoning laws to control the occurrence of crime.
| Crime | Dallas | Houston | United States |
| Violent Crime | 37 | 50.4 | 22.7 |
| Property Crime | 50.7 | 63.2 | 35.4 |
Source: bestplace.net
However, Dallas is not the safest city in Texas. It has its share of violent and property crimes that can still be very alarming. The crime rate in Dallas is also higher than in other cities in the United States.
There are good things in Dallas that are safe, and knowing which places to avoid in the city is essential. Some suburbs in Dallas are safe, where you can choose to get a real estate or apartment rental.
When moving, you can consider Oak Lawn, Arts Districts, Northeast, and Southwest Dallas. These are the safest neighborhoods in the city, with crime rates lower than the average.
On the other side, Houston, a more dangerous city than Dallas, is known for homicides. The number of such crimes can reach 300 cases in a year. Of course, this is being addressed by the city government. Thus, the numbers are going down. The rate of occurrence may be decreasing, but work is still to be done.
Is it hotter in Dallas or Houston?
Houston is hotter than Dallas. The humidity you experience in Houston is intense, making it unbearable. Compared to Dallas, Houston has a tropical, temperate climate that goes all year round.
You will experience more humidity in Houston than in Dallas throughout the year. It may be the result of its geographical location near Galveston Bay.
Summer tends to be very hot in Houston, as well. The temperature can go all the way up to the most unbearable degrees. You can experience this from June to August.
On the other side, Dallas has much tolerable weather. It is milder, especially in spring and fall. Summer may be hotter, as well. But compared to Houston, the temperature is less oppressive.
Dallas or Houston: Bigger
Dallas and Houston are the primary cities in Texas. So, comparing these two in terms of population and land area is essential. It will help us better understand the critical differences between these two megacities.
Size
If we will discuss the total area, Houston is about 671.70 square miles, while Dallas is 383.44 square miles. Thus, Houston is almost twice as big as Dallas. It is more significant than 288.23 square miles.
Population
In terms of population size, Houston is also bigger than Dallas. It has an estimated population of 2.31 million in recent years.
On the other hand, Dallas has 1.31 million residents. The data is from the United States Census Bureau.
Dallas and Houston: Which is better?
Dallas or Houston: To Live
| Dallas | Houston |
| Bishop Arts District | Downtown Historic Market Square |
| Deep Ellum (Deep Elm) | Sawyer Yards |
| Dallas Arts District | Chinatown |
| Greenville Avenue | Theater District |
| West End Historic District |
Dallas or Houston: To Visit
| Dallas | Houston |
| The Dallas World Aquarium | Houston Museum District |
| Dallas Heritage Village | Houston Museum of Natural Science |
| Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden | Holocaust Museum Houston |
| Dallas Museum of Art | Discovery Garden |
| Reunion Tower | Galveston |
Dallas or Houston: For Vacation
| Dallas | Houston |
| Downtown Dallas | Downtown Houston |
| Main Street District | Northwest Houston |
| Uptown Dallas | Uptown |
| Victory Park | Montrose |
| Oak Lawn | Museum District |
Dallas and Houston are two Texan cities that are often compared.
In this comparison, both exhibited their strengths and weaknesses. Dallas will charm you with its excellent public school system, while Houston will attract you with its unique neighborhood.
By affordability, Houston, by far, will surely win. But, of course, more than the cost of living, there is much to consider when choosing the best.
Dallas is very progressive and constantly developing. This city’s higher cost of living is well-compensated by a reasonable salary rate. You can cut down state taxes, gasoline, education, and even food costs. As a better city to live in, Dallas will get a higher score after factoring in crucial considerations.