Dallas: Full big-city stack; property tax offsets the income-tax win. Houston: Value + elite medicine; humidity, flooding, sprawl.
Dimension
Dallas
Houston
Median home price
$367K
$309K
Effective property tax
1.68%
1.68%
Tax friendliness
9/10
9/10
Winter mildness
8/10
9/10
Summer comfort
4/10
3/10
Walkability
6/10
6/10
Outdoor access
4/10
4/10
Culture & food
8/10
8/10
Healthcare
10/10
10/10
Airport connectivity
10/10
9/10
Schools
6/10
5/10
Safety
5/10
5/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
8/10
7/10
Growth trajectory
6/10
9/10
Pick Dallas if your priorities lean: Summer comfort, Airport connectivity, Schools, Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk). Pick Houston if they lean: Median home price, Winter mildness, Growth trajectory. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.