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Dallas County, TX

RANK #906 / 996  ·  POP 2,604,053  ·  TX

PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.8%

Dallas County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Dallas County?

Dallas County, Texas, stands out for its blend of urban amenities and natural escapes, with the Cedar Ridge Preserve offering a taste of the Texas Hill Country just 20 minutes from downtown Dallas. This 600-acre natural sanctuary, managed by Audubon Dallas, features miles of hiking trails, native plants, and wildlife, including opportunities for birdwatching. The county, home to the city of Dallas, is located in north central Texas, characterized by rolling prairie and the Trinity River flowing through its center. Commute options include major interstates, tollways, and the extensive Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail system, which connects Dallas with surrounding cities and even both major airports.

Life in Dallas County offers a diverse community with access to numerous parks, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Public schools in the county are rated above average, with several highly-ranked institutions. The economy is driven by various sectors, attracting families and professionals. Recent economic developments include significant investments in commercial and residential properties, data centers, and infrastructure projects, such as new parks and trail systems. The county also focuses on environmental quality through programs like Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and maintaining its extensive open space system.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
2.1x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+1.3%

Well below national median

Home Prices
-4.1%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
0.6

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
13x

Below national median (13x)

Housing looks undervalued at 2.1x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Dallas County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
2,604,053
-0.03% YoY
Median Household Income
$70,732
Median Home Value
$252,200
-4.11% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,374
Average Annual Pay
$89,284
+3.4% YoY
Employment
1,826,215
-0.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2805
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.75%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$358,000
Days on Market
71
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.0
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
96.9%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
14.3%
Listings w/ Price Drops
28.7%
Building Permits (2024)
12,711
Single-Family Permits
5,655

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$4,499M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
I-635 Reconstruction and Widening (US 75 to S of I-30; E and W on I-30)
Pegasus Link Constructors (TxDOT)
$1,700M Under Construction
Dallas County Data Center Relocation
Dallas County
$750M Planned
I-35E Reconstruction (I-635 to Denton Co. line)
Lone Star Constructors (TxDOT)
$709M Under Construction
I-635 at US 80 Interchange Reconstruction
Austin Bridge & Road Services, LP (TxDOT)
$540M Under Construction
University Hills Master-Planned Development
Hoque Global
$500M Under Construction
Stream Data Centers Hyperscale Campus (Wilmer)
Stream Data Centers
$300M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.3% 22 percentile
Population Growth -0.0% 28 percentile
Income Growth +8.8% 58 percentile
Vacancy Rate 2.4% 4 percentile
Home Price Change -4.1% 4 percentile
Rent Growth +0.2% 13 percentile
Price/Rent 13x 55 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dallas County, TX a good place to move to?

Dallas County has a Boom Town Index score of 9/100, ranking #906 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.6% and a median household income of $70,732, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Dallas County affordable?

The median home value in Dallas County is $252,200 with median rent at $1,374/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2805, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Dallas County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.0% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.6%. Home values changed -4.1% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Dallas County?

Yes — 2.75% of Dallas County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Santa Rosa County, FL 19 Forrest County, MS 19 Fayette County, GA 19 Umatilla County, OR 19 Contra Costa County, CA 19 Chatham County, NC 19 Lafayette Parish, LA 19 Putnam County, TN 19