Dallas Demographics — Zip Code Demographics, Income & Housing Data

The City of Dallas is home to roughly 1.3 million residents, and the broader Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area counts approximately 7.6 million people, making it the fourth-largest metro in the United States and one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. Median household income across the metro is approximately $76,000, with substantial variation between ZIP codes — from under $40,000 in parts of South Dallas to well over $200,000 in Highland Park and University Park.

The population is racially and ethnically diverse: roughly 41% non-Hispanic white, 25% Black or African American, 41% Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 8% Asian, with growing multi-racial and immigrant communities. The age structure skews young — about 24% of residents are under 18 and a median age of approximately 33 — reflecting in-migration of working-age families. Figures throughout the site are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and updated as new releases become available.

Public education in the Dallas area is delivered primarily through Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD), the second-largest district in Texas with roughly 140,000 students across more than 230 campuses. Suburban districts including Highland Park ISD, Plano ISD, Frisco ISD, Allen ISD, and Carroll ISD (Southlake) consistently rank among the highest-performing in the state according to Texas Education Agency (TEA) accountability ratings, with several earning A ratings and graduation rates above 95%.

The metro is also home to nationally recognized magnet programs such as the School for the Talented and Gifted, which routinely appears at the top of U.S. News national high school rankings. Compare district demographics, ratings, and individual campus performance in our school districts guide.

The Dallas metro area's overall cost of living sits near the U.S. national average — typically within a few points either direction depending on the index — with housing being the dominant variable. The median home value across DFW is approximately $320,000, ranging from under $150,000 in parts of South Dallas and Grand Prairie to well over $1 million in Highland Park, University Park, and Southlake. Median rent for the metro is roughly $1,500 per month, with Class A urban apartments in Uptown and Downtown commonly exceeding $2,000.

Texas has no state income tax, which improves take-home pay relative to high-tax states, but property tax rates in DFW counties are among the highest in the nation (typically 2.0%–2.7% of assessed value), which materially affects total housing cost. Groceries, utilities, and transportation generally track close to national averages. Use our cost of living calculator to compare Dallas to other U.S. cities with state-tax adjustments factored in.

Dallas has a hot humid subtropical climate. Summer highs (June–September) regularly reach the upper 90s°F, with July averaging around 96°F, while winter lows in January average in the mid-30s°F. Spring and fall are generally pleasant but can bring severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes. The metro's job market remains a major draw: DFW has added jobs faster than the national average for over a decade, with strength in finance (regional HQs for Bank of America, Charles Schwab, Goldman Sachs), technology (Texas Instruments, AT&T, Toyota North America), logistics, and healthcare.

Transportation is dominated by an extensive highway network; DART operates light rail, bus, and commuter rail (TRE) connecting downtown Dallas to suburbs and Fort Worth, though the metro remains heavily car-dependent. For a complete relocation checklist, see our Moving to Dallas guide.