Neighborhood in Dallas, Dallas County

Living in South Side, Dallas

B

22nd of 53areas in Dallas
Overall score 65 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Dallas overall: C-

South Side is a neighborhood in Dallas, TX, home to about 2,300 people. It gets a B, in the top 36% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 22nd of 53 areas we score in Dallas. It does best on getting around and worst on home ownership.

  • Lots of parks
  • Home ownership scores low (19 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.4 mi
Pharmacy0.5 mi
Park0.2 mi
Cafe0.3 mi
Restaurant0.1 mi
Gym0.3 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.7 mi
Childcare0.4 mi
Library0.4 mi

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

Population
2,280
Median rent
$1,630
Median home value
$417,000
Household income
$101,200
Average commute
22 min
Homes owned
31%
Loading map

What it's like to live in South Side

South Side is a neighborhood in Dallas with about 2,300 residents, homes built around 1982, mostly rented (69% of homes) and 14% of households with children.

Our grade for South Side is B. That puts it 22nd of 53 areas we grade in Dallas, a city that gets a C- overall.

Pros of living in South Side

  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • 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 0.2 miles away.

Cons of living in South Side

  • Higher poverty. 30% of residents live below the poverty line, against 17% across Dallas.
  • Higher unemployment. 9.3% of the labor force is out of work, against 4.9% across Dallas.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

South Side report card

Each grade compares South Side 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 $1,630, homes cost 4.1x income.

    40 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D

    Median household income $101,200, 9.3% unemployed.

    24 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B+

    Nearby schools average 87 of 100 on the state rating.

    75 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.

    65 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 22 min, 16% work from home.

    81 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B-

    55% have a bachelor’s degree.

    62 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C-

    14% of adults uninsured.

    35 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D

    31% of homes owner-occupied.

    19 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B-

    95% of homes have broadband.

    61 of 100 vs TX areas

South Side compared with Dallas

Better than Dallas

  • Median household income: $101,20044% higher than Dallas ($70,518)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 55%17 points higher than Dallas (38%)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 14%8 points lower than Dallas (23%)

Worse than Dallas

  • People below the poverty line: 30%13 points higher than Dallas (17%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 31%11 points lower than Dallas (42%)
  • Unemployment rate: 9.3%4 points higher than Dallas (4.9%)

Closest public schools

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

  • ADowntown Montessori at Ida B Wells AcademyElementary, Dallas ISD1 mi
  • BBilly Earl Dade MiddleMiddle, Dallas ISD1.2 mi
  • BJames Madison High SchoolHigh, Dallas ISD1.7 mi

Cost of living in South Side

Median rent in South Side is $1,630 a month, 11% higher than the Dallas median. A household would need about $65,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $417,000, 30% higher than the Dallas median, which means a monthly payment of about $3,084 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereDallasTexas
Median rent11% higher than Dallas$1,630$1,472$1,403
Median home value30% higher than Dallas$417,000$320,700$283,800
Home value to income9% lower than Dallas4.1x4.5x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent6 points lower than Dallas45%52%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them11 points lower than Dallas31%42%63%
Vacant homes2 points lower than Dallas7.9%9.5%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Dallas198219811992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$3,084
Mortgage payment
$2,283
Property tax
$802
Median rent, for comparison
$1,630

Based on a $417,000 home in South Side, 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 income44% higher than Dallas$101,200$70,518$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points higher than Dallas9.3%4.9%5.3%
People below the poverty line13 points higher than Dallas30%17%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher17 points higher than Dallas55%38%34%
Average commute13% lower than Dallas22 min26 min27 min
Workers who work from homeAbout the same as Dallas16%16%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Dallas5.3%4.4%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet4 points higher than Dallas95%91%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingHigh
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in South Side

Under 189.9%
18 to 3437%
35 to 6441%
65 and over12%
Race and ethnicity
White33%
Hispanic or Latino32%
Black16%
Asian3.6%
Other or more than one race16%

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. BNottingham WestHouston
  2. B-East TylerTyler
  3. CLegend HillsSan Antonio

Questions about South Side

Is South Side a good place to live?

South Side is a neighborhood in Dallas, TX, home to about 2,300 people. It gets a B, in the top 36% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 22nd of 53 areas we score in Dallas. It does best on getting around and worst on home ownership.

How much does it cost to live in South Side?

Renters in South Side pay a median of $1,630 a month, 11% higher than the Dallas median. The median home is worth $417,000, 30% higher than the Dallas median. A median home costs 4.1x the median household income, compared with 4.5x across Dallas.

What schools serve South Side?

The closest rated public schools are Downtown Montessori at Ida B Wells Academy (elementary, rated A), Billy Earl Dade Middle (middle, rated B) and James Madison High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 2 Census block groups closest to the South Side 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.