Neighborhood in Dallas, Dallas County

Living in South Dallas, Dallas

D-

50th of 53areas in Dallas
Overall score 12 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Dallas overall: C-

South Dallas covers part of Dallas, TX, home to about 127,300 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 50th of 53 areas we score in Dallas. It does best on getting around and worst on health.

  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (13 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (10 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.7 mi
Pharmacy0.9 mi
Park0.4 mi
Cafe1.5 mi
Restaurant0.4 mi
Gym1.3 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.3 mi
Childcare0.7 mi
Library1.3 mi

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

Population
127,340
Median rent
$1,320
Median home value
$188,000
Household income
$51,800
Average commute
29 min
Homes owned
60%
Loading map

What it's like to live in South Dallas

South Dallas is an area in Dallas with about 127,300 residents, homes built around 1969, a mix of owners and renters and 39% of households with children.

Our grade for South Dallas is D-. That puts it 50th of 53 areas we grade in Dallas, a city that gets a C- overall.

Pros of living in South Dallas

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,320, 10% lower than the Dallas median.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.7 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.4 miles away.

Cons of living in South Dallas

  • Higher poverty. 24% of residents live below the poverty line, against 17% across Dallas.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

South Dallas report card

Each grade compares South Dallas 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 $1,320, homes cost 3.6x income.

    41 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D-

    Median household income $51,800, 6.0% unemployed.

    13 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C+

    Nearby schools average 81 of 100 on the state rating.

    52 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 C-

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    38 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B-

    Average commute 29 min, 9.1% work from home.

    56 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D-

    13% have a bachelor’s degree.

    10 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    28% of adults uninsured.

    3 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade C-

    60% of homes owner-occupied.

    35 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D-

    80% of homes have broadband.

    14 of 100 vs TX areas

South Dallas compared with Dallas

Better than Dallas

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 60%18 points higher than Dallas (42%)
  • Home value to income: 3.6x20% lower than Dallas (4.5x)
  • Median rent: $1,32010% lower than Dallas ($1,472)

Worse than Dallas

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13%25 points lower than Dallas (38%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 64%12 points higher than Dallas (52%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 80%11 points lower than Dallas (91%)

Closest public schools

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

  • AClinton P Russell ElementaryElementary, Dallas ISD0.1 mi
  • FBoude Storey MiddleMiddle, Dallas ISD0.8 mi
  • BSouth Oak Cliff High SchoolHigh, Dallas ISD0.9 mi

Cost of living in South Dallas

Median rent in South Dallas is $1,320 a month, 10% lower than the Dallas median. A household would need about $53,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $188,000, 41% lower than the Dallas median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,244 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereDallasTexas
Median rent10% lower than Dallas$1,320$1,472$1,403
Median home value41% lower than Dallas$188,000$320,700$283,800
Home value to income20% lower than Dallas3.6x4.5x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent12 points higher than Dallas64%52%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them18 points higher than Dallas60%42%63%
Vacant homes2 points lower than Dallas7.7%9.5%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Dallas196919811992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,244
Mortgage payment
$1,029
Property tax
$215
Median rent, for comparison
$1,320

Based on a $188,000 home in South Dallas, 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 income27% lower than Dallas$51,800$70,518$78,476
Unemployment rate1 points higher than Dallas6.0%4.9%5.3%
People below the poverty line8 points higher than Dallas24%17%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher25 points lower than Dallas13%38%34%
Average commute11% higher than Dallas29 min26 min27 min
Workers who work from home7 points lower than Dallas9.1%16%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Dallas5.1%4.4%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet11 points lower than Dallas80%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
  • WildfiresModerate
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in South Dallas

Under 1830%
18 to 3422%
35 to 6434%
65 and over14%
Race and ethnicity
White4.0%
Hispanic or Latino43%
Black51%
Asian0.5%
Other or more than one race1.7%

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-Willow RunHouston
  2. D-Scenic WoodsHouston
  3. D-Acres HomesHouston

Questions about South Dallas

Is South Dallas a good place to live?

South Dallas covers part of Dallas, TX, home to about 127,300 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 50th of 53 areas we score in Dallas. It does best on getting around and worst on health.

How much does it cost to live in South Dallas?

Renters in South Dallas pay a median of $1,320 a month, 10% lower than the Dallas median. The median home is worth $188,000, 41% lower than the Dallas median. A median home costs 3.6x the median household income, compared with 4.5x across Dallas.

What schools serve South Dallas?

The closest rated public schools are Clinton P Russell Elementary (elementary, rated A), Boude Storey Middle (middle, rated F) and South Oak Cliff High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 68 Census block groups in this part of Dallas that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.