The Town FilesDallas, Texas
City in Dallas County · population 1,304,379 (2020 Census) · spans 5 counties
- Median home
- $320,700
- Household income
- $70,518
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 33.4
Dallas is a city of 1,304,379 people in Dallas County, Texas. The median home is worth $320,700, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better transit than 100% of Texas towns, more walkable than 98% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 98% of Texas towns.
How Dallas ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dallas is worth $320,700, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $70,518, which is more affordable than 9% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,472 a month. 42.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dallas | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $320,700 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,472 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $70,518 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 42.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Dallas
| People | Dallas | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.4% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Dallas
July highs average 96.9°F and January lows 37.9°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 108 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 23 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dallas since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on October 20, 2019 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 268 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 16, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 209 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 5, 2003.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 1,826,215 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $89,284 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Dallas itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Dallas
360 public schools with 204,149 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKYLINE H S | 9-12 | 3,780 | 15.2 |
| LAKE HIGHLANDS H S | 9-12 | 2,925 | 14.0 |
| OAK CLIFF FAITH FAMILY ACADEMY (charter) | PK-12 | 2,468 | 20.1 |
| BRYAN ADAMS H S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY | 9-12 | 2,253 | 15.8 |
| HIGHLAND PARK H S | 9-12 | 2,177 | 15.1 |
| SUNSET H S | 9-12 | 2,147 | 16.3 |
| W T WHITE H S | 9-12 | 2,074 | 15.1 |
| MOISES E MOLINA H S | 9-12 | 2,017 | 14.7 |
| TRINITY BASIN PREPARATORY (charter) | PK-8 | 2,017 | 13.4 |
| W W SAMUELL H S | 9-12 | 1,878 | 15.0 |
| SEAGOVILLE H S | 9-12 | 1,827 | 15.1 |
| WOODROW WILSON H S | 9-12 | 1,791 | 15.2 |
Towns near Dallas
- Highland Park, TX3.3 mi · 8,864 people · home $1,989,900
- University Park, TX4.2 mi · 25,278 people · home $1,861,800
- Cockrell Hill, TX8.1 mi · 3,815 people · home $189,800
- Balch Springs, TX10.2 mi · 27,685 people · home $224,400
- Mesquite, TX10.8 mi · 150,108 people · home $245,700
- Hutchins, TX10.9 mi · 5,607 people · home $235,200
- Garland, TX11.3 mi · 246,018 people · home $270,800
- Farmers Branch, TX11.3 mi · 35,991 people · home $364,600
Dallas questions
Is Dallas, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dallas scores better for retirees than 10% of Texas towns and quieter than 3%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.4).
How much does a house cost in Dallas?
The median owner-occupied home in Dallas is valued at $320,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,518, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,472 a month.
What is the weather like in Dallas?
July highs average 96.9°F and January lows 37.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does Dallas get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dallas since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on October 20, 2019. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)