Dallas County, TX Local Data & Statistics

State: TX

Total population: 2,621,179 Household income: $76,547 Rent: $1,565

Overview

Total population

2,621,179

Rent

$1,565

Year built

1983

Household income

$76,547

Per capita income

$42,559

Poverty rate

13.9%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

49.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Texas

Total population

2,621,179

Adults over 25

1,709,388

Total households

982,737

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$76,547

Per capita income

$42,559

Poverty rate

13.9%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Rent over 30% of income

49.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,565

Year built

1983

Households that rent

49.2%

Households that own

50.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

34.7%

Black

22.4%

Asian

7.1%

Two or more races

21.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

41.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

58.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

84.3%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

15.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.9%

High school graduate or GED

22.3%

Some college or associate degree

10%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

35.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Dallas County, TX with: Dallas Metro Area, TX Texas United States

Dallas County, TX

Total population2,621,179

Rent$1,565

Year built1983

Household income$76,547

Per capita income$42,559

Poverty rate13.9%

Unemployment rate3.7%

Dallas Metro Area, TX

Total population7,985,590

Rent$1,614

Year built1993

Household income$90,275

Per capita income$45,949

Poverty rate10.5%

Unemployment rate3.9%

Texas State

Total population30,188,424

Rent$1,403

Year built1992

Household income$78,476

Per capita income$40,752

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyDallas County, TX	Metro AreaDallas Metro Area, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	2,621,179	7,985,590	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,565	$1,614	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	1983	1993	1992	1980
Household income	$76,547	$90,275	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$42,559	$45,949	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	13.9%	10.5%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.7%	3.9%	4.1%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Dallas County, TX

Dallas County is located in Texas .

Rent & Income

In Dallas County, the monthly rent is $1,565 and household income is $76,547. Rent is higher than both Texas and the U.S., and household income is similar to Texas and lower than the U.S. The poverty rate is 13.9%, which is similar to Texas and higher than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 49.2% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 49.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 35.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, which is lower than both Texas and the national rate.

Dallas County, TX — Rent vs Household Income

Dallas County, TX — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Dallas County, TX (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,565 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Dallas County, TX

Annual Household Income: $76,547

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Dallas County, TX

Estimated Rate: 13.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Dallas County, TX

In Dallas County, TX, households that rent: 483,826 (49.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	483,826	49.2%
Owner-Occupied	498,911	50.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Dallas County, TX

In Dallas County, TX, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 241,145 (49.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	241,145	49.8%
Other renter households	242,681	50.2%
Total renter households	483,826	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Dallas County, TX

Less than High School: 545,727 people (31.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 381,090 people (22.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 171,708 people (10%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 610,863 people (35.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 1,709,388

📊 Unemployment Rate in Dallas County, TX

Estimated Rate: 3.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.