Cost of Living in Dallas County, Texas
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Dallas County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Dallas County ranks #2,913 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 7%)
Sourced county brief
Dallas County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $1,565 Monthly
Median gross rent in Dallas County was estimated at $1,565 per month. This figure is $570 above the Texas unweighted county mean of $995. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), based on ACS table B25071, was 31.1%. This is 4.2 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 26.9%. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost for all units was $1,536, which is $659 above the state unweighted county mean of $877. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $303,000, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $185,237. Median renter-household income was recorded at $59,770. These statistics are based on 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Dallas County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.1% of renter household income in Dallas County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,565 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,536. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $62,600 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Texas unweighted mean of county median rents is $995 per month. Dallas County's $1,565 median is 57.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Dallas County
Rent Burden
24.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,786
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.1%
of gross income
The median home in Dallas County may be a stretch
Median home value is $303,000. Estimated monthly cost: $2,419 vs. your max of $1,786.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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