Moving to Dallas: 2026 Relocation Guide

Moving to Dallas: 2026 Relocation Guide

Dallas added another ~120,000 residents in 2025 and the inflow hasn't slowed. If you're planning a 2026 move, here's a current relocation guide — neighborhoods, costs, and what to know before move day.

Cost of living (2026)

• Median home price (Dallas metro): ~$415K
• Median 1BR rent: $1,650 (Uptown), $1,250 (suburbs)
• No state income tax — but property taxes are ~2.1%
• Auto insurance averages higher than the national mean

Best neighborhoods by lifestyle

• Young professional — Uptown, Deep Ellum, Lower Greenville, Bishop Arts
• Families — Plano, Frisco, Allen, Coppell, Southlake
• Walkable urban — Downtown, Victory Park, Knox-Henderson
• Budget-friendly — Richardson, Garland, Mesquite, Irving
• Luxury — Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow

Schools

Plano ISD, Frisco ISD, Coppell ISD, and Highland Park ISD consistently rank top-10 in Texas. Dallas ISD has strong magnet programs (TAG, SEM, Booker T).

Weather realities

• Summers: 95–105°F, June–September
• Winters: mild, but occasional ice storms (Feb 2021 cautionary tale)
• Spring: severe thunderstorms, occasional tornadoes
• Schedule moves before 11am in summer

Job market

Major employers: AT&T, American Airlines, Texas Instruments, JPMorgan, Toyota North America (Plano), Charles Schwab (Westlake).

Move-day logistics

• DFW Airport is huge — factor 45+ min from most neighborhoods
• Tolls (DNT, PGBT, 121, 161) — get a TollTag before move week
• Avoid moving the last week of August (apartment turnover peak)

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