Dallas, TX
No state income tax, a deep job market, and room to spread out across the Metroplex.
Dallas and the wider Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex draw people leaving LA for jobs, space and no state income tax. In the most recent Redfin data the typical Dallas home sold for about $512K, versus about $904K for the typical LA County zip code.
The money picture
| Typical LA County zip | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $904K | $512K |
| Median price per sq ft | $588 | $262 |
| Median days on market | n/a | 40 |
| State income tax on wages | Progressive, top rate 13.3% | None on wages (Texas has no personal income tax) |
Market figures: Redfin Data Center. Dallas: May 2026, all residential. LA: median of LA County zip-code medians, Mar 2026 to May 2026. Medians are a rough guide and hide a wide range of homes. Tax rates as published by each state for tax year 2026; rates change, so verify with the state's revenue department.
The typical single-family home in Dallas sold for about $570K and the typical condo for about $271K. The trade-off most people ask about is property tax: Texas relies heavily on local property taxes, so combined rates are generally well above what long-time California owners pay under Prop 13. Rates depend on the city, county, school district and special districts for each address, and Texas offers homestead exemptions on a primary residence.
Two homes priced at $570K in different parts of the Metroplex can carry noticeably different annual tax bills because they sit in different taxing districts. A buyer would look up the actual combined rate and exemptions for each address through the county appraisal district, such as the Dallas Central Appraisal District, before comparing monthly costs.
What people tend to weigh
- Taxes together. No income tax, higher property taxes, and homeowners insurance costs that have been rising in Texas. Look at all three at once.
- Climate. Hot summers, occasional winter freezes, and spring storm and hail season.
- Housing stock. Established neighborhoods close in, and a lot of newer construction in cities like Plano, Frisco, McKinney and Fort Worth.
- Getting back. Two major airports with many nonstop flights to LA.
Comparing Texas cities? See Austin vs. Dallas vs. Houston.
The move starts with the sale.
Before you land anywhere, your LA home has to sell, and how it sells sets your budget for everything after. The seller's playbook covers timing, California withholding at closing, transfer taxes and the questions to bring your CPA.