Dallas, Texas, and San Francisco, California, offer contrasting aspects of American life. The former is defined by its Southern charm, pro-business environment, and booming economy, while the latter is renowned for its stunning scenery, progressive values, and vibrant tech industry. Regardless of individual preferences, both cities provide various opportunities, challenges, and distinct aspects, from safety, climate, and cost of living to education, employment, infrastructure, and culture.
Distance between
Dallas, TX and
San Francisco, CA : 1,481.7 miles
Dallas's population is larger by 58%. Its population has grown by 99,877 people (8.4%) since 2000. The population of San Francisco has grown by 38,468 people (5.0%) during that time.
Overall, San Francisco has a higher crime rate than Dallas. Although the crime rate in Dallas is also above the national average, it has been consistently decreasing, making it a safer option for families considering relocation. Tourists in both cities should remain vigilant in crowded attractions to avoid petty crimes. The police departments in both cities run community awareness programs aimed at safety.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 4,297 registered sex offenders living in Dallas and 829 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Dallas is 307 to 1; the ratio in San Francisco is 1,051 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is much larger in Dallas than that in San Francisco.
Cost of Living
Living in San Francisco is notably more expensive than Dallas, driven primarily by housing costs. While groceries, healthcare, and transport are somewhat more expensive in San Francisco, the big difference lies in rent and property prices.
Income Tax
San Francisco residents must contend with California's income tax, which may go up to 13.3%, depending on income. On the contrary, Texas, and thus Dallas, have no state income tax.
Property Tax
Dallas has higher property tax rates generally than San Francisco as a result of Texas' high property tax across the state.
Sales Tax
Dallas sales tax is 8.25%, which is higher than San Francisco's 8.5%. However, Texas doesn’t have a state income tax, which may appeal to some.
Income
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Estimated median household income
$57,995
$121,826
Estimated per capita income
$38,479
$80,383
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
96.1
141.1
If you make $50,000 in Dallas, you will have to make $73,413 in San Francisco to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
San Francisco, characterized by rolling hills and coastal beaches, offers natural beauty and outdoor opportunities in abundance. Comparatively, Dallas, with flat terrain and the Trinity River, offers a topography less varied but equally alluring.
Both cities have a range of educational options with diverse programs. However, the number of universities and higher education institutions including Stanford and UC Berkeley tend to give San Francisco an edge in education. Dallas, nonetheless, is home to renowned universities such as Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Dallas operates with a diversified economy highlighted by sectors such as defense, financial services, and life sciences. Meanwhile, San Francisco is internationally recognized for its tech-dominated economy, home to many world-renowned tech giants like Google and Facebook. Work opportunities abound in both cities although they vary significantly in nature.
Biggest Employers
In Dallas, the top employers include AT&T, Bank of America, and Texas Health Resources. Conversely, San Francisco hosts several tech giants, including Salesforce, Uber, and Twitter.
There were 2,245 building permits issued in Dallas in 2012 (1436 more than in 2011) compared to 33 building permits issued in San Francisco in 2012 (2 more than in 2011).
In Dallas (Dallas County), 57.3% voted for Democrats and 41.8% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In San Francisco (San Francisco County), 83.5% voted for Democrats and 13.0% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Dallas
San Francisco
Dallas
San Francisco
Dallas
San Francisco
2020
65.1%
85.3%
33.4%
12.7%
1.4%
2.0%
2016
60.8%
84.6%
34.7%
9.2%
4.5%
6.2%
2012
57.3%
83.5%
41.8%
13.0%
1.0%
3.4%
2008
57.4%
84.4%
42.0%
13.7%
0.6%
2.0%
2004
49.0%
83.0%
50.4%
15.2%
0.5%
1.8%
2000
45.0%
75.7%
52.7%
16.1%
2.4%
8.1%
1996
46.0%
72.2%
46.8%
15.7%
7.2%
12.1%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Dallas
San Francisco
Dallas
San Francisco
CATHOLIC CHURCH
18.9%
15.0%
2.4%
9.6%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
11.0%
0.7%
31.1%
8.4%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
3.6%
0.8%
1.1%
1.2%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.0%
0.8%
1.5%
3.5%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.5%
0.2%
1.7%
1.9%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.2%
0.9%
1.7%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.1%
0.6%
0.2%
2.5%
Weather
Dallas has a humid subtropical climate with hot, sticky summers and mild winters, while San Francisco enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by mild, damp winters and dry summers. Though seasonal swings in Dallas can be more extreme, San Francisco's foggy conditions can catch tourists and new residents off-guard.
Weather and climate
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Temperature - Average
66.6°F
58.3°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
71.3%
84.3%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
34%
29%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
82%
91%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
62%
Precipitation - Yearly average
37.3 in
22.2 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
4.2 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
22.8%
26.8%
Sunshine amount - Average
66.6%
73%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
20%
22%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
77%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
54%
55%
Wind speed - Average
10.3 mph
11.4 mph
Average climate in Dallas, Texas
Average climate in San Francisco, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM25
SO2
Year
Dallas
San Francisco
San Francisco
Dallas
San Francisco
Dallas
San Francisco
Dallas
San Francisco
Dallas
San Francisco
Dallas
San Francisco
2018
86
104
0.35
N/A
5.7
11.3
28.7
23.4
N/A
0.012
9.7
11.9
0.4
0.4
2017
84
96
0.40
N/A
5.5
11.4
28.6
22.5
N/A
0.008
9.1
9.9
0.3
0.6
2016
81
68
0.39
N/A
6.1
10.6
27.2
22.4
N/A
0.005
8.4
7.9
0.2
0.8
2015
85
85
0.41
N/A
6.5
12.1
26.7
22.5
N/A
0.004
8.9
7.9
0.3
0.8
2014
83
85
0.38
N/A
6.3
12.1
27.6
21.8
N/A
0.005
9.9
7.7
0.3
0.6
2013
97
88
0.40
N/A
7.3
13.9
28.8
20.4
N/A
0.004
13.0
10.2
0.2
0.5
2012
116
75
0.40
N/A
8.6
12.8
31.0
22.7
N/A
0.003
12.0
8.2
0.3
1.1
2011
98
86
0.24
N/A
9.4
14.1
30.9
21.3
N/A
0.003
11.9
9.5
0.6
1.7
2010
79
84
0.21
N/A
9.4
13.4
28.3
22.0
N/A
0.004
N/A
10.6
0.7
1.0
2009
88
95
0.30
N/A
9.2
15.1
28.8
20.4
N/A
0.005
N/A
12.8
0.5
1.1
2008
88
94
0.43
N/A
9.8
15.6
29.2
21.7
0.121
0.007
N/A
11.7
0.5
0.9
2007
94
84
0.45
N/A
11.0
15.6
25.7
20.5
0.070
0.007
N/A
8.9
0.3
1.2
2006
107
86
0.52
N/A
10.8
16.1
30.6
21.5
0.106
N/A
N/A
8.7
0.7
1.6
2005
108
89
0.39
N/A
13.0
14.8
29.7
20.5
0.142
N/A
11.0
8.8
0.9
1.3
2004
96
93
0.44
N/A
12.3
16.1
26.0
20.9
0.099
0.004
N/A
11.2
0.8
2.5
2003
102
65
0.64
N/A
13.6
18.4
27.1
19.7
0.121
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.0
1.7
2002
100
62
0.69
N/A
14.0
18.6
25.2
19.6
0.080
0.008
N/A
N/A
0.4
1.4
2001
100
64
0.72
N/A
14.3
19.2
26.0
19.0
0.069
0.008
N/A
N/A
1.0
1.4
2000
109
60
0.71
N/A
14.5
20.3
27.0
17.1
0.092
0.017
N/A
N/A
1.1
2.0
Natural disasters
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
254.7%
7.7%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
567%
7,468.1%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
21%
6%
Transportation
Public transit is generally superior in San Francisco, with the city’s Muni system and BART trains. Dallas relies more on cars for commuting, but also offers a DART rail system.
Transport
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Amtrak stations
1
4
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
2
453
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
56
9
Means of transportation to work
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Bicycle
0.3%
2.7%
Bus
1.4%
11.4%
Carpooled
10.9%
9.1%
Car alone
83.9%
53.9%
Ferryboat
0%
0.4%
Motorcycle
0%
0.9%
Railroad
0.2%
0.7%
Streetcar
0.1%
7.9%
Subway
0.2%
1.6%
Taxicab
0.1%
0.4%
Walked
1.6%
8.3%
Average travel time to work
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Average
31.5 min
38 min
Other means
26.5 min
28.3 min
Public transportation
46 min
39.7 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
86.8%
85.5%
In 2 person carpool
9%
10.1%
In 3 person carpool
2.6%
3.2%
In 4 person carpool
0.9%
0.9%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.5%
0.2%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0.1%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Dallas has a more stable and affordable real estate market compared to San Francisco, which is known for sky-high property prices. Both cities provide diverse types of housing options, from downtown apartments to suburban family homes.
Neighborhoods
San Francisco's neighborhoods are characterized by their cultural diversity, from the busy streets of Chinatown to the colorful Victorians in Haight-Ashbury. Dallas also has a variety of neighborhoods like the trendy Uptown and the quaint, artistic Bishop Arts District.
Houses and residents
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Houses
591,773
412,269
Average household size (people)
2.6
2.3
Median year apartment built
1987
1953
Median year house/condo built
1969
1942
Length of stay in the house since moving in
13.9 years
16.3 years
Houses occupied
536,008 (90.6%)
350,796 (85.1%)
Houses occupied by owners
229,518 (42.8%)
140,809 (40.1%)
Houses occupied by renters
306,490 (57.2%)
209,987 (59.9%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,403
$3,809
Median monthly housing costs
$1,225
$2,337
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$574,934
$1,670,841
Estimated median house or condo value
$267,600
Over $1,000,000
Median numbers of rooms
4.6
3.9
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.7
3.2
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.1
5.6
Median house price - detached houses
$410,272
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$255,160
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$230,927
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$444,589
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - mobile homes
$91,039
$517,939
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$350,045
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - All housing units
$402,215
Over $1,000,000
Median house age
40
76
Renting percentage
55.9%
64.2%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,727.6
8,829.1
House value disparities
41.3%
18.7%
Household income disparities
48.2%
41.7%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$103,798
$210,544
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$61,909
$99,969
Housing units without a mortgage
1,309 (1%)
1,778 (1.9%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
3,320 (2.6%)
7,687 (8.3%)
Housing units with a mortgage
124,846 (99%)
91,236 (98.1%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
204 (0.2%)
471 (0.5%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
5,351 (4.2%)
9,395 (10.1%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
12
14
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
4
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.2%
4.7%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.9%
2.7%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Dallas
San Francisco
One, detached
41.8%
19.1%
One, attached
4.3%
12.1%
Two
1.5%
9.0%
3 or 4
4.9%
11.4%
5 to 9
7.9%
9.0%
10 to 19
12.1%
9.3%
20 to 49
8.1%
11.3%
50 or more
18.4%
18.7%
Mobile homes
1.0%
0.1%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
43,703
30,288
State government workers
17,325
22,691
Unpaid family workers
754
399
Industries and Occupations
In Dallas, the leading industries are finance, defense, and health care, while San Francisco has a tech-heavy economy and a significant presence in healthcare, finance, and cultural industries.
Both cities offer world-class healthcare options. Dallas is home to the Southwestern Medical District, while San Francisco is anchored by UCSF Medical Center and various other top-ranked hospitals.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Both cities are recognized for their advanced infrastructure. Dallas offers modern highways and a comprehensive mass transit system while San Francisco is known for its iconic cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge, and efficient Mass Transit Authority. Plus, both cities have major international airports serving as global hubs.
Infrastructure
Type
Dallas
San Francisco
Hospitals
74
16
TV stations
25
18
Arenas or stadiums
2
2
Bank branches located here
394
281
Bank institutions located here
80
52
Main business address for public companies
122
68
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
8
5
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Dallas
San Francisco
1999
5,030
1,402
2000
3,390
1,000
2001
2,626
733
2002
2,657
870
2003
3,617
1,576
2004
5,460
2,147
2005
7,445
2,344
2006
7,397
2,511
2007
5,056
2,117
2008
2,200
1,575
2009
1,121
952
Culture and Food
Culturally, both cities have a lot to offer. San Francisco is renowned for its wine culture, seafood, and world-class arts scene, while Dallas boasts a vibrant food scene with its BBQ, authentic Mexican, and Tex-Mex cuisines.
Sports Teams
Dallas is home to highly successful sports franchises, including the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and Dallas Mavericks (NBA). Conversely, San Francisco is home to the San Francisco 49ers (NFL) and the Giants (MLB).
Dallas, TX
San Francisco, CA
Dallas, TX and 
San Francisco, CA : 1,481.7 miles
