Dallas vs San Diego
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Dallas, TX | San Diego, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $512K | $970K |
| Median single-family | $570K | $1.27M |
| Median condo | $271K | $618K |
| Median $/sq ft | $262 | $693 |
| Median days on market | 40 | 21 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 97.6% | 99.2% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,820 | 1,440 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 77,161 | n/a |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Dallas is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $512K versus $970K in San Diego, roughly 47% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 3,820 square feet in Dallas at the median price per square foot, versus about 1,440 in San Diego. San Diego homes have been moving faster, 21 median days on market versus 40 in Dallas. San Diego is in California, so its income tax matches LA's. Texas has no personal income tax. About 77,000 people moved from California to Texas in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Dallas: None on wages (Texas has no personal income tax). San Diego: Same as LA (California, progressive, top rate 13.3%). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Dallas and moving from LA to San Diego.
Common questions
Is Dallas or San Diego cheaper?
Dallas had the lower median sale price, about $512K versus $970K in San Diego (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 47% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Dallas or San Diego?
Dallas has the lower state income tax. Texas has no personal income tax. By comparison, California has a progressive income tax with a top marginal rate of 13.3% (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Dallas vs San Diego?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,820 square feet in Dallas and 1,440 in San Diego, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
