Dallas, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan, are two distinctly different cities each with its unique qualities and challenges. Dallas is a city with a rapidly growing workforce, strong economy, and flourishing culture while Detroit is a city rebirthed from tough economic times and is stepping forward with a revitalized downtown atmosphere. Here's a detailed comparative analysis of various aspects of life in both cities.
Distance between
Dallas, TX and
Detroit, MI : 997.7 miles
Dallas's population is larger by 104%. Its population has grown by 99,877 people (8.4%) since 2000. The population of Detroit has decreased by 318,806 people (33.5%) during that time.
When it comes to crime, both Dallas and Detroit have higher crime rates compared to the national average. However, Detroit's crime rate is significantly higher than that of Dallas. This may cause some concern for individuals looking to relocate, but it's essential to note that crime is often localized to specific neighborhoods. Tourists should also take common safety precautions, as they should in any large city.
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 4,288 registered sex offenders living in Dallas and 3,462 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Dallas is 307 to 1; the ratio in Detroit is 194 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a smaller in Dallas than in Detroit.
Cost of Living
The cost of living is affordable in both cities, but Detroit is cheaper than Dallas in most areas, including housing, groceries, and health. However, the median household income in Dallas is higher than in Detroit, which potentially offsets some of the cost differential.
Income Tax
Texas does not have a state income tax, which can lead to significant savings for residents in Dallas. On the contrary, Detroit imposes a city income tax—2.4% for residents and 1.2% for non-residents—plus Michigan's flat state income tax rate of 4.25%.
Property Tax
Dallas has a high property tax rate averaging around 2.08%, while Detroit's property tax is comparably lower, around 1.79%. However, higher property values in Dallas might mean the actual amount paid could be higher.
Sales Tax
The total sales tax rate in Dallas is 8.25%, made up of the Texas state rate of 6.25% plus local district taxes. Michigan's statewide sales tax is 6%, and Detroit does not add a local city sales tax.
Income
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Estimated median household income
$57,995
$36,140
Estimated per capita income
$38,479
$22,122
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
96.1
94.1
If you make $50,000 in Detroit, you will have to make $51,063 in Dallas to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Dallas enjoys a flat and prairie-like terrain, with the Trinity River running through the city. Detroit is located on the Detroit River and has a close proximity to the Great Lakes, offering stunning riverfront views and opportunities for water-based activities.
Both cities are home to a variety of educational options, from primary to postgraduate. Dallas boasts a higher graduation rate and better overall school district performance, but Detroit has made significant efforts to reform its educational system and has several standout schools. Additionally, both cities are flecked with excellent universities and colleges.
Dallas hosts an extremely diverse economy with specialties in sectors such as information technology, defense, financial services, and life sciences. On the other hand, Detroit, known as the 'Motor City', is a hub for automotive manufacturing and has been diversifying with sectors like technology, health, and clean energy. Over the past decade, Detroit's economy has been improving after significant economic struggles.
Biggest Employers
In Dallas, major employers encompass a wider variety of sectors, with companies like AT&T, Texas Health Resources, American Airlines, and Lockheed Martin. Detroit's biggest employers are primarily from the automobile industry, like General Motors and Ford, but also include healthcare (Henry Ford Health System).
There were 2,245 building permits issued in Dallas in 2012 (1436 more than in 2011) compared to 10 building permits issued in Detroit in 2012 (8 less than in 2011).
In Dallas (Dallas County), 57.3% voted for Democrats and 41.8% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Detroit (Wayne County), 73.1% voted for Democrats and 26.2% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Dallas
Detroit
Dallas
Detroit
Dallas
Detroit
2020
65.1%
68.6%
33.4%
30.4%
1.4%
1.0%
2016
60.8%
66.6%
34.7%
29.4%
4.5%
4.0%
2012
57.3%
73.1%
41.8%
26.2%
1.0%
0.6%
2008
57.4%
74.4%
42.0%
24.7%
0.6%
0.9%
2004
49.0%
69.7%
50.4%
29.9%
0.5%
0.4%
2000
45.0%
69.1%
52.7%
29.1%
2.4%
1.8%
1996
46.0%
69.0%
46.8%
24.0%
7.2%
7.0%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Dallas
Detroit
Dallas
Detroit
CATHOLIC CHURCH
18.9%
16.3%
2.4%
11.2%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
11.0%
0.4%
31.1%
3.2%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
3.6%
3.7%
1.1%
2.9%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.0%
0.4%
1.5%
2.5%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.5%
0.4%
1.7%
1.4%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.7%
0.9%
2.8%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.3%
1.2%
0.7%
3.9%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.1%
1.5%
0.2%
2.4%
Weather
Dallas experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters, making it pleasant for those who enjoy warm weather. Winter weather in Dallas is mild compared to Detroit, which is known for cold, harsh winters and mild, pleasant summers. Detroit enjoys a complete experience of all four seasons, thus offering a diverse range of recreational activities throughout the year.
Weather and climate
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Temperature - Average
66.6°F
50°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
71.3%
75.3%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
34%
33%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
82%
86%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
53%
Precipitation - Yearly average
37.3 in
33.6 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
4.2 in
86.5 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
22.8%
12.7%
Sunshine amount - Average
66.6%
56.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
20%
38%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
69%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
54%
31%
Wind speed - Average
10.3 mph
10.2 mph
Average climate in Dallas, Texas
Average climate in Detroit, Michigan
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM25
SO2
Year
Dallas
Detroit
Detroit
Dallas
Detroit
Dallas
Detroit
Dallas
Detroit
Dallas
Detroit
Dallas
Detroit
2018
86
90
0.44
N/A
5.7
12.9
28.7
25.8
N/A
N/A
9.7
10.1
0.4
1.1
2017
84
87
0.56
N/A
5.5
12.7
28.6
20.9
N/A
N/A
9.1
10.1
0.3
1.3
2016
81
86
0.47
N/A
6.1
13.2
27.2
22.0
N/A
N/A
8.4
10.9
0.2
0.8
2015
85
95
0.49
N/A
6.5
14.8
26.7
26.5
N/A
N/A
8.9
11.9
0.3
1.2
2014
83
95
0.48
N/A
6.3
14.2
27.6
24.2
N/A
N/A
9.9
12.0
0.3
1.7
2013
97
80
0.53
N/A
7.3
14.4
28.8
24.5
N/A
N/A
13.0
11.0
0.2
1.3
2012
116
99
0.49
N/A
8.6
14.6
31.0
25.7
N/A
N/A
12.0
6.6
0.3
1.7
2011
98
94
0.32
N/A
9.4
12.9
30.9
24.3
N/A
N/A
11.9
6.5
0.6
1.6
2010
79
96
0.28
N/A
9.4
11.8
28.3
24.7
N/A
0.006
N/A
12.1
0.7
1.6
2009
88
68
0.27
N/A
9.2
12.7
28.8
23.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.5
1.9
2008
88
67
0.27
N/A
9.8
12.8
29.2
N/A
0.121
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.5
2.0
2007
94
81
0.29
N/A
11.0
13.7
25.7
25.8
0.070
0.017
N/A
N/A
0.3
N/A
2006
107
63
0.31
N/A
10.8
14.0
30.6
19.8
0.106
0.022
N/A
N/A
0.7
3.2
2005
108
83
0.36
N/A
13.0
17.4
29.7
22.6
0.142
0.019
11.0
N/A
0.9
4.0
2004
96
70
0.43
N/A
12.3
15.0
26.0
N/A
0.099
0.014
N/A
N/A
0.8
3.7
2003
102
86
0.40
N/A
13.6
18.5
27.1
N/A
0.121
0.013
N/A
N/A
1.0
4.8
2002
100
88
0.36
N/A
14.0
18.3
25.2
N/A
0.080
0.019
N/A
N/A
0.4
4.3
2001
100
83
0.36
N/A
14.3
19.0
26.0
N/A
0.069
0.020
N/A
N/A
1.0
4.4
2000
109
71
0.35
N/A
14.5
18.2
27.0
N/A
0.092
0.027
N/A
N/A
1.1
5.2
Natural disasters
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
254.7%
128.5%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
567%
53.2%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
21%
14%
Transportation
In Dallas, driving is the main form of commuting with an average commute time of 26.6 minutes. Dallas also has the D.A.R.T (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) system. In contrast, Detroit's public transit is less extensive, with most Detroit residents preferring to use a car. The city, however, has recently introduced the QLine streetcar as an effort to improve public transit.
Transport
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
2
93
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
56
3
Means of transportation to work
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Bicycle
0.3%
0.5%
Bus
1.4%
4%
Carpooled
10.9%
7.5%
Car alone
83.9%
83.4%
Railroad
0.2%
0%
Subway
0.2%
0.1%
Taxicab
0.1%
0.5%
Walked
1.6%
2.7%
Average travel time to work
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Average
31.5 min
30.6 min
Other means
26.5 min
26 min
Public transportation
46 min
47.7 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
86.8%
87.1%
In 2 person carpool
9%
10.5%
In 3 person carpool
2.6%
1%
In 4 person carpool
0.9%
1%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.5%
0.3%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0.2%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Dallas real estate offers an average balance between price and quality, with a broad range of upscale neighborhoods, family-friendly suburbs, and affordable housing. Detroit's real estate can offer attractive price points, but the city has struggled with urban blight and vacant homes. Recent efforts at revitalization may affect future real estate opportunities.
Neighborhoods
Dallas neighborhoods cater to various lifestyle preferences, from the trendy urban neighborhood of Deep Ellum to the family-friendly locality of Lake Highlands. Detroit, however, offers historic areas like Corktown, Midtown known for its art, culture, and education scene, and downtown Detroit which is undergoing a significant redevelopment boom.
Houses and residents
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Houses
591,773
322,906
Average household size (people)
2.6
2.6
Median year apartment built
1987
1953
Median year house/condo built
1969
1946
Length of stay in the house since moving in
13.9 years
16.7 years
Houses occupied
536,008 (90.6%)
251,729 (78%)
Houses occupied by owners
229,518 (42.8%)
129,084 (51.3%)
Houses occupied by renters
306,490 (57.2%)
122,645 (48.7%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,403
$798.06
Median monthly housing costs
$1,225
$755
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$574,934
$86,452
Estimated median house or condo value
$267,600
$69,300
Median numbers of rooms
4.6
5.7
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.7
5
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.1
6.3
Median house price - detached houses
$410,272
$96,752
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$255,160
$72,631
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$230,927
$183,952
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$444,589
$242,851
Median house price - mobile homes
$91,039
$43,864
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$350,045
$128,652
Median house price - All housing units
$402,215
$101,554
Median house age
40
74
Renting percentage
55.9%
48.9%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,727.6
2,326.9
House value disparities
41.3%
48.4%
Household income disparities
48.2%
49.3%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$103,798
$61,259
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$61,909
$38,901
Housing units without a mortgage
1,309 (1%)
2,599 (5.6%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
3,320 (2.6%)
2,270 (4.9%)
Housing units with a mortgage
124,846 (99%)
43,675 (94.4%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
204 (0.2%)
357 (0.8%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
5,351 (4.2%)
3,466 (7.5%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
12
16
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
4
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.2%
17.1%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.9%
13.6%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Dallas
Detroit
One, detached
41.8%
66.0%
One, attached
4.3%
6.1%
Two
1.5%
6.5%
3 or 4
4.9%
2.7%
5 to 9
7.9%
2.2%
10 to 19
12.1%
2.7%
20 to 49
8.1%
3.9%
50 or more
18.4%
9.4%
Mobile homes
1.0%
0.5%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
43,703
11,725
State government workers
17,325
8,763
Unpaid family workers
754
441
Industries and Occupations
Detroit is heavily reliant on its auto industry, but it's diversifying into healthcare and technology. Dallas, however, has a vast diversity of industries, including IT, defense, and telecommunication. Various prominent multinational corporations in different sectors provide numerous employment opportunities in Dallas.
Dallas and Detroit both offer excellent medical facilities. Dallas is home to world-class hospitals like UT Southwestern Medical Center. Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital and Detroit Medical Center also offer high-quality care. When it comes to health insurance, Texas as a whole has a higher uninsured rate compared to Michigan.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Dallas
Detroit
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Dallas offers top-class infrastructure, including an international airport, well-maintained highways, and healthcare facilities. Downtown Dallas also offers high-speed internet services and skyscrapers housing corporate offices. Detroit, whose infrastructure suffered during economic downturns, is undergoing significant revitalization, including a modernized public transit system and efforts to upgrade general amenities.
Infrastructure
Type
Dallas
Detroit
Hospitals
74
41
TV stations
25
16
Arenas or stadiums
2
4
Bank branches located here
394
98
Bank institutions located here
80
12
Main business address for public companies
122
11
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
Detroit
1999
5,030
2,901
2000
3,390
4,079
2001
2,626
3,815
2002
2,657
3,247
2003
3,617
5,511
2004
5,460
9,068
2005
7,445
13,958
2006
7,397
16,654
2007
5,056
10,742
2008
2,200
2,823
2009
1,121
484
Culture and Food
Dallas is famous for its BBQ, Tex-Mex cuisine, and live music scene while Detroit is known for its Coney dogs, Detroit-style pizza, and rich music history including Motown. Both cities have bustling art and nightlife scenes, with museums, galleries, and a robust lineup of events year-round.
Sports Teams
Both cities are big on sports. Dallas is home to the Dallas Cowboys (NFL), the Mavericks (NBA), and the Stars (NHL). Detroit hosts the Lions (NFL), Tigers (MLB), Pistons (NBA), and Red Wings (NHL). Both cities provide sports fans an exceptional environment to cheer their favorite teams.
Dallas, TX
Detroit, MI
