Dallas and Austin are two incredibly popular cities in Texas. They are the third and fourth biggest cities in the state after San Antonio and Houston. While geographically similar, these two cities each have their own unique identities and charm, making them two common options if you’re thinking of moving to Texas. Which one is best? Which city will be right for your family?
When it comes to choosing between two vibrant Texas cities, Dallas and Austin, there are several factors to consider. From cultural attractions to job opportunities, each city has its own unique charm. In this article, we will compare Dallas and Austin in various aspects to help you make an informed decision about which city suits your lifestyle and preferences.
Austin vs. Dallas: Which city is best for you?
When deciding between Austin and Dallas as your next place to rent, several key factors come into play. Austin, known for its vibrant music scene and bohemian culture, offers a more relaxed and outdoor-oriented lifestyle. However, with rising housing costs and increasing traffic congestion, it’s essential to consider your budget and commute when choosing a neighborhood. In contrast, Dallas, with its cosmopolitan atmosphere and diverse job market, caters to a more business-oriented lifestyle. It has a wider range of housing options and a better-developed public transportation system, making it easier to find affordable rentals and manage your daily commute.
Consider your climate and entertainment preferences, safety concerns, and long-term plans when making your decision. Both cities have their unique charm and advantages, so it ultimately comes down to your personal priorities and lifestyle choices. Exploring neighborhoods and talking to locals can provide valuable insights to help you make the right choice for your rental destination. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:
Cost of living
- Dallas: Affordable with a cost of living similar to the national average.
- Austin: Higher cost of living, particularly in terms of housing expenses.
One of the first considerations you’ll likely have is the cost of living. Dallas definitely wins out here for affordability.
Especially when it comes to major cities, Dallas is fairly affordable. You’ll find that the cost of living in Dallas is about the same as the national average, although it is slightly more expensive than Texas overall. Housing tends to be slightly less expensive in comparison to the United States on average, but transportation is often more expensive.
Austin tends to have a higher cost of living than Dallas, and a significant portion of that is due to housing costs. You can expect other areas of bills, including your utilities, transportation, and grocery purchases, to be fairly similar to Dallas.
Housing costs
- Dallas: Median home prices around $410,000 with an average rent of $1,475.
- Austin: Higher median home prices at around $649,000 with an average rent of $1,715.
The real estate market is constantly shifting for both Dallas and Austin, but Dallas wins out in the housing market as well.
The median listing price for Dallas homes is around $410,000, and rent comes in at around $1,475 on average. Median housing prices can also shift dramatically depending on the neighborhood, so be aware that you’ll spend more to live in a more popular neighborhood.
The median price for Austin homes is much higher, at around $649,000, and the median rent is also higher, coming in at about $1,715. While this is a fairly significant amount of money, it might not be enough to make or break your choice. You should simply be aware that you’ll spend more money on housing when living in Austin.
Job opportunities
- Dallas: Diverse job market with strong sectors in industries like technology, healthcare, and manufacturing.
- Austin: Thriving job market, particularly in the technology sector, with a growing number of tech startups and established companies.
Dallas is known for its robust job market, particularly in industries like finance, technology, and healthcare. The city is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and offers a wide range of employment opportunities. The city has a strong presence in the technology industry, with companies like Texas Instruments, Southwest Airlines, and Jacobs Engineering Group. Dallas also has a significant financial services sector, with companies like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs having a presence in the city.
On the other hand, Austin has a thriving tech scene, with many startups and tech giants establishing their presence there, with companies like Indeed, Bumble, and BigCommerce originating from Austin. Austin also has a strong focus on the semiconductor industry, with companies like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), NXP Semiconductors, and Cirrus Logic located in the area.If you are looking for career growth in the tech industry, Austin might have the edge.
Food scene
- Austin: Trendier culinary experience with options like brisket tacos and elevated BBQ.
- Dallas: Embraces down-home, traditional Southern cuisine with dishes like biscuits and gravy.
Texas is known for its mouth-watering cuisine, and you’ll find incredible food in both of these destinations, and the main distinction in the culinary scene in Austin and Dallas is noted by what type of food each area excels in.
Austin tends to have a trendier culinary experience, with options like brisket tacos, elevated BBQ, and even ramen available for hungry Austin locals to enjoy. This food scene utilizes old-school Texas flavors while incorporating new-school Texas trends.
Dallas, on the other hand, tends to embrace down-home, traditional southern cuisine. While you’ll still find street tacos and brisket, you’ll also experience more traditional southern food, like biscuits and gravy, as well as plenty of other comfort foods available at popular restaurants like Ms. Mary’s Southern Kitchen.
Nightlife and entertainment
- Austin: Over 250 live music venues, renowned as “The Live Music Capital of the World.”
- Dallas: Vibrant music scene, particularly in the Deep Ellum neighborhood, with a variety of upscale and trendy options.
While both Austin and Dallas are large cities,with plenty of nightlife opportunities in both, Austin may have a slight edge on the competition.
Known as “The Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin has over 250 live music venues in town, and you can explore them all throughout the day and night. Additionally, the Rainey Street District includes a large number of bars, providing access to a true nightclub atmosphere that affords Austin residents a wide variety of establishments to fit each personality and preference.
Dallas, also has its fair share of nightlife opportunities. There’s a vibrant music scene in Dallas, especially within the Deep Ellum neighborhood, where you can also find plenty of upscale, trendy options for new drinks and styles. The Texas honky tonk sensation is alive and well in Dallas, and you can find plenty of venues dedicated to the classic Southern twang.
Cultural experiences
- Austin: Known for its creativity, artists’ community, and events like South by Southwest festival.
- Dallas: Rich cultural hotspots including the Dallas Museum of Art, art galleries, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
While Austin and Dallas are very similar, they have their own unique cultural experiences that distinguish each city.
Austin is well-known for its creativity and community of artists. Aside from the music scene, residents also enjoy plenty of art and cultural experiences in Austin, including the well-known South by Southwest festival, the Art in Public Places tour, and The People’s Gallery, a celebration of Austin’s diversity.
Dallas also has its fair share of cultural hotspots, including the Dallas Museum of Art. The area is well-known for showcasing art galleries, such as the Nasher Sculpture Center, and celebrating its diverse population and the art they create. The Frontiers of Flight Museum gives even more insight into the Dallas nickname “The Aviation Capital of the World.”
Outdoor activities
- Austin: Scenic spots like Lake Travis, Barton Springs, and Mount Bonnell for boating, swimming, and hiking.
- Dallas: Beloved attractions like the Dallas Arboretum Botanical Garden, Katy Trail, and Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.
Both Dallas and Austin have predominantly favorable weather throughout the year, allowing for outdoor activities and enjoyment.
Austin is celebrated for its incredibly beautiful scenery and ’Instagrammable’ spots all throughout the area. If you’re looking to go boating or take a dip, then check out Lake Travis, Barton Springs, or Lake Austin. If you’d rather climb a mountain or enjoy a picnic outdoors, then Mount Bonnel might be more your style.
Dallas has a number of opportunities for outdoor activities, such as the incredibly beloved Dallas Arboretum Botanical Garden and Fair Park. Katy Trail is also one of the most well-known trails in the area, and if you’re willing to travel toward nearby Fort Worth, you can enjoy other natural beauty, including the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.
Local schools and education
- Austin: Strong opportunities for education, including the University of Texas at Austin and reputable K-12 schools.
- Dallas: Numerous K-12 schools serving a larger geographical area, along with universities like the University of Texas at Dallas and Southern Methodist University.
Whether you’re raising children or looking for a educational opportunities for yourself, there are many options available in Austin and Dallas.
Austin has strong opportunities for education for both primary and university levels. . There are many K-12 schools in the Austin area, and the University of Texas at Austin is a popular college option for many people who are pursuing secondary education.
There are substantially more K-12 schools in Dallas, likely due to the significantly larger geographical area, and greater population of residents. Schools in this area also often serve Fort Worth and Arlington. There’s also the University of Texas at Dallas, as well as Southern Methodist University and the University of North Texas, based out of nearby Denton.
Sports scene
- Austin: Emphasis on college sports, especially football, with the University of Texas Longhorns as a source of pride.
- Dallas: Home to professional teams like the Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Dallas Mavericks (NBA), and FC Dallas (MLS).
The sports scene in both Austin and Texas is incredibly intense, spurred on by long-running competition between the two. Sports fans will absolutely have something to love about both options.
Austin is home to the Austin FC, a professional soccer club that hosts its home games at Q2 Stadium. Some of their notable players include Sebastián Driussi, Brad Stuver, and Rodney Redes. Austin, as a strong college town, has a large focus on college sports, specifically football; The University of Texas Longhorns are a source of great pride among Austin residents.
Dallas, on the other hand, is notable for its team, FC Dallas, which holds home games at Toyota Stadium. Some notable players for FC Dallas include Paul Arriola, Matt Hedges, Alan Velasco, and their head coach, Nico Estévez. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks play out of Dallas — the Cowboys are one of the most well-known football teams in the United States, and what the Longhorns are to Austin football, the Cowboys are to Dallas football. The city also has its own NHL, MLB, and WNBA professional teams.
Find a great home wherever you end up
So which is it, Dallas or Austin? These two Texas cities offer prospective residents two unique living experiences. While both share commonalities, you’ll find varying options for housing, entertainment, and culinary expertise. Regardless of where in Texas you end up, you deserve to get a great home in the area. That’s where Zumper comes in, making it easy for you to find the right home for your needs. Zumper can even help you discover short-term home rentals so that you can take a few weeks to ensure you’re going to be happy living in the neighborhood you’ve chosen.
Frequently asked questions: Austin vs. Dallas
Is Dallas or Austin safer?
Both Dallas and Austin have safe areas to live in, and they’re generally placed around the same area when ranking different metropolitan areas. On average, you’ll find that most data ranks Dallas as being slightly safer than Austin, but the difference is fairly small. Some studies will even show Austin as being safer than Dallas. Remember to look at safety statistics for the actual neighborhood you’re planning to live in for the best results.
Which is larger, Dallas or Austin?
Dallas is one of the largest cities in the United States and the third largest in Texas, home to 1.304 million people. Austin is the fourth largest city in Texas, with 961,885 people included in the 2020 census. The Dallas area is also very large, 385.9 square miles, and is over 100 square miles larger than Austin, which is 271.8 square miles. While Austin is still a very large city, it may feel much smaller in comparison to Dallas.
How close are Austin and Dallas to each other?
One of the best elements of Dallas and Austin is that they’re fairly close to each other. It’s only about a three-hour drive on Interstate 35 to either city. That means if you choose to live in one, but you like the amenities and nightlife of the other, you can always travel for a day trip or short-term stay.
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