Dallas is a booming metropolis and the third largest city in Texas, putting it in the sights of families both in and out of the city.

Let’s explore this further.

Reasons Why Dallas is a Good Place for Raising a Family

Dallas is a great place to start a family because it has a low cost of living, plenty of job opportunities, great schools, great weather, plenty of family-friendly spaces, and lots of hospitals.

Dallas has an affordable cost of living.

Dallas is an affordable place to live in. It has a cost of living index of 65.4 from Numbeo, meaning it’s 23.7% cheaper than New York.

On average, a family of three can expect to spend $4,148 a month on living expenses such as food, housing, and public transportation.

For a family of four, monthly expenses jump to $5,134 a month. These may seem like huge numbers but luckily, Dallas has a great job market that pays well.

Here’s what families can expect to spend per month in Dallas.

Dallas has a great job market. 

Dallas has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, employing workers in industries like healthcare, tech, manufacturing, defense, and finance.

These industries put Dallas’ median salary at $3,666 per month, with the median household income being $5,500 a month. 

For a family of four earning $5,500 and spending $5,134 a month on living expenses, there will be $366 left for savings or family activities.

Some great in-demand jobs in Dallas are registered nurses and sales representatives. 

These earn an average of $67,698 and $52,413 respectively, which is enough to cover the costs of living for families of three.

To give you more options, here are the most common and in-demand jobs in Dallas.

Dallas has good schools.

Dallas education is considered top-quality. The Texas Education Agency gave the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) a B rating or a score of 86 out of 100. 

Further, The Private School Review ranks a total of 12 Dallas primary and secondary schools among the best in Texas. 

The Texas Education Agency assessed the district based on three categories:

1. Student Achievement – This is based on student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exams, post-graduate preparedness, and graduation rates. The Dallas ISD earned a C rating or a score of 78 out of 100.

2. School Progress – This is based on how well a district’s student performance improves per year, as well as the performance of its economically disadvantaged students. The Dallas ISD earned a B rating or a score of 89 out of 100.

3. Closing the Gaps – This is based on the population, performance, and graduation rates of students that are special needs and from minority and economically disadvantaged groups. Dallas earned a C rating or a score of 78 out of 100. 

When your kids get to college, Dallas’ best schools are Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Dallas. These two schools are considered among the best in Texas.

Southern Methodist is the 94th best college in the US, while UT Dallas is the 323rd according to the Times Higher Education US College Rankings. In Texas, Southern Methodist ranks 4th and UT Dallas ranks 12th.

Students at Southern Methodist pay around $56,560 in tuition and earn around $57,533 10 years after graduating. UT Dallas’ students pay $38,168 in tuition and earn around $51,300 10 years after they graduate.

Dallas has great weather.

Dallas weather has a humid subtropical climate, meaning it has hot but humid summers and cool winters. 

The city has a high average yearly temperature of 76°F, while its low average is 58°F. It has an average daily relative humidity of 75% too, so it never gets too hot even on the sunniest of days.

Dallas experiences quite a bit of rain though, seeing an average of 2.7 inches every time it rains. This happens mostly in May and October while the rest of the year is mostly sunny.

Speaking of sunny, Dallas has a 63.6% chance of clear skies throughout the year. Mix this with the city’s high humidity and it’s perfect for outdoor activities with the family.

There are plenty of family-friendly spaces in Dallas.

Dallas is littered with parks and fun places for bonding with your family. Trinity Forest Adventure Park and Adventure Landing are Dallas’ most famous amusement parks. 

Both of these places are filled with fun and safe activities for both children and adults. Trinity Park has obstacle courses and zip lines, while Adventure Landing has mini-golf, laser tag, and go-karts.

For something indoors, the Perot Museum and the Dallas World Aquarium are popular family destinations. The Perot Museum has interactive exhibits and a children’s museum, while Dallas World has plenty of exotic wildlife on display.

Here are their details.

Dallas has plenty of hospitals.

Dallas has the most hospitals out of any other city in Texas. These all offer quality healthcare, ranking Dallas 13th among Medbelle’s Best US Hospital Cities rankings.

These rankings were done based on the quality of the facilities, quality of care, and financial accessibility. Dallas hospitals are all well-equipped, but they’re very expensive.

Different hospitals charge different rates, so prices for the same service can vary by up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for some common services and procedures in Dallas.

Given how expensive Dallas healthcare can be, here are the least and most expensive healthcare providers in the county. These are ranked based on how much hospitals charged in comparison with Medicare rates.

5 Best Neighborhoods in Dallas for Families

The best neighborhoods in Dallas for families are Campbell Green, Preston Highlands, Prestonwood, Lakeview Heights, and Wilshire Heights. 

These neighborhoods are well-connected to the city and have plenty of amenities like schools, churches, parks, and more within walking distance. 

Campbell Green

Campbell Green is best known for its excellent public schools and low crime rate. It experiences an average of just 20.6 violent crimes and 1,174 property crimes per 100,000 residents.

Preston Highlands 

Preston Highlands is also known for its schools and low crime rate, but it also has a diverse community and great nightlife. Its residents aren’t too political either, which can be a pro or con depending on your views.

Prestonwood 

Prestonwood is known for its great schools, diversity, nightlife, and easy access to high-paying jobs. It’s located near the Downtown area where all the major corporations are, cutting commute times significantly.

Lakeview Heights

Lakeview Heights’ schools aren’t that great — but houses are affordable, it’s near the city’s financial districts, and it has a very low crime rate. Public transportation is harder to access than in other places, though, since it’s a very suburban area.

Wilshire Heights 

Wilshire Heights has great public schools, nightlife, access to high-paying jobs, and a low population density. It’s also one of Dallas’ more expensive neighborhoods, so it isn’t for everyone.

Here’s a table to help you decide which neighborhood best fits your family’s needs.