Neighborhood in Dallas, Dallas County

Living in Oak Cliff, Dallas

C-

39th of 53areas in Dallas
Overall score 35 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Dallas overall: C-

Oak Cliff is a neighborhood in Dallas, TX, home to about 29,300 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 39th of 53 areas we score in Dallas. It does best on schools and worst on education levels.

  • Lots of parks
  • Education levels scores low (8 of 100)
  • Health scores low (9 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.4 mi
Pharmacy0.5 mi
Park0.4 mi
Cafe0.7 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.4 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.6 mi
Childcare0.6 mi
Library0.9 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
29,320
Median rent
$1,420
Median home value
$246,000
Household income
$62,500
Average commute
28 min
Homes owned
71%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Oak Cliff

Oak Cliff is a neighborhood in Dallas with about 29,300 residents, older homes (median year built 1955), mostly owner-occupied (71%) and 40% of households with children.

It grades C- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 39th of 53 areas in Dallas, which grades C- overall.

Pros of living in Oak Cliff

  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.4 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.4 miles away.

Cons of living in Oak Cliff

  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

Oak Cliff report card

Each grade compares Oak Cliff with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade C-

    Median rent $1,420, homes cost 3.9x income.

    39 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D+

    Median household income $62,500, 4.3% unemployed.

    25 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B

    Nearby schools average 84 of 100 on the state rating.

    65 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 577 violent crimes per 100k, 3,077 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade B-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    63 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C+

    Average commute 28 min, 7.5% work from home.

    53 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade F

    14% have a bachelor’s degree.

    8 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    37% of adults uninsured.

    9 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B-

    71% of homes owner-occupied.

    64 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D+

    87% of homes have broadband.

    29 of 100 vs TX areas

Oak Cliff compared with Dallas

Better than Dallas

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 71%29 points higher than Dallas (42%)
  • Vacant homes: 2.1%7 points lower than Dallas (9.5%)
  • Home value to income: 3.9x13% lower than Dallas (4.5x)

Worse than Dallas

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 14%24 points lower than Dallas (38%)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 37%14 points higher than Dallas (23%)
  • Median household income: $62,50011% lower than Dallas ($70,518)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • BLeila P Cowart ElementaryElementary, Dallas ISD0.4 mi
  • CL V Stockard MiddleMiddle, Dallas ISD0.5 mi
  • CJustin F Kimball High SchoolHigh, Dallas ISD1.8 mi

Cost of living in Oak Cliff

Median rent in Oak Cliff is $1,420 a month, about the same as the Dallas median. A household would need about $57,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $246,000, 23% lower than the Dallas median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,603 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereDallasTexas
Median rent4% lower than Dallas$1,420$1,472$1,403
Median home value23% lower than Dallas$246,000$320,700$283,800
Home value to income13% lower than Dallas3.9x4.5x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent4 points higher than Dallas56%52%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them29 points higher than Dallas71%42%63%
Vacant homes7 points lower than Dallas2.1%9.5%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Dallas195519811992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,603
Mortgage payment
$1,347
Property tax
$256
Median rent, for comparison
$1,420

Based on a $246,000 home in Oak Cliff, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereDallasTexas
Median household income11% lower than Dallas$62,500$70,518$78,476
Unemployment rateAbout the same as Dallas4.3%4.9%5.3%
People below the poverty lineAbout the same as Dallas18%17%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher24 points lower than Dallas14%38%34%
Average commute7% higher than Dallas28 min26 min27 min
Workers who work from home8 points lower than Dallas7.5%16%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Dallas3.6%4.4%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet4 points lower than Dallas87%91%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesLow
  • TornadoesHigh
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Oak Cliff

Under 1827%
18 to 3423%
35 to 6437%
65 and over13%
Race and ethnicity
White10%
Hispanic or Latino83%
Black5.8%
Asian0.1%
Other or more than one race0.6%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Dallas

  1. 1A+West End Historic DistrictMedian rent $2,090
  2. 2A+Cypress WatersMedian rent $1,760
  3. 3A+Roseland CommmunityMedian rent $2,020
  4. 4ALakewoodMedian rent $2,400
  5. 5AHarwood DistrictMedian rent $2,280
  6. 6AKnoxMedian rent $2,220
  7. 7APrestonwoodMedian rent $1,530
  8. 8AUptownMedian rent $2,280

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. D+Santa FeLaredo
  2. D+Santa RitaLaredo
  3. DRidge StoneSan Antonio

Questions about Oak Cliff

Is Oak Cliff a good place to live?

Oak Cliff is a neighborhood in Dallas, TX, home to about 29,300 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 39th of 53 areas we score in Dallas. It does best on schools and worst on education levels.

How much does it cost to live in Oak Cliff?

Median rent in Oak Cliff is $1,420 a month, 4% lower than the Dallas median. The median home is worth $246,000, 23% lower than the Dallas median. A median home costs 3.9x the median household income, compared with 4.5x across Dallas.

What schools serve Oak Cliff?

The closest rated public schools are Leila P Cowart Elementary (elementary, rated B), L V Stockard Middle (middle, rated C) and Justin F Kimball High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 16 Census block groups closest to the Oak Cliff name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.