Neighborhood in Dallas, Dallas County

Living in Southwest Dallas, Dallas

D-

51st of 53areas in Dallas
Overall score 10 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Dallas overall: C-

Southwest Dallas covers part of Dallas, TX, home to about 137,700 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 51st 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 (16 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (16 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.6 mi
Pharmacy1.0 mi
Park0.4 mi
Cafe0.9 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.8 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.4 mi
Childcare0.7 mi
Library1.3 mi

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

Population
137,740
Median rent
$1,330
Median home value
$259,000
Household income
$61,600
Average commute
27 min
Homes owned
43%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Southwest Dallas

Southwest Dallas is an area in Dallas with about 137,700 residents, homes built around 1983, a mix of owners and renters and 36% of households with children.

It grades D- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 51st of 53 areas in Dallas, which grades C- overall.

Pros of living in Southwest Dallas

  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.6 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.4 miles away.

Cons of living in Southwest Dallas

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

Southwest Dallas report card

Each grade compares Southwest 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 $1,330, homes cost 4.2x income.

    37 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D

    Median household income $61,600, 6.8% unemployed.

    16 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C-

    Nearby schools average 78 of 100 on the state rating.

    38 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

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    45 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C+

    Average commute 27 min, 10% work from home.

    53 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D

    20% have a bachelor’s degree.

    16 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    31% of adults uninsured.

    5 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D+

    43% of homes owner-occupied.

    29 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D+

    88% of homes have broadband.

    31 of 100 vs TX areas

Southwest Dallas compared with Dallas

Better than Dallas

  • Median rent: $1,33010% lower than Dallas ($1,472)
  • Vacant homes: 6.0%4 points lower than Dallas (9.5%)
  • Home value to income: 4.2x8% lower than Dallas (4.5x)

Worse than Dallas

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 20%18 points lower than Dallas (38%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 61%9 points higher than Dallas (52%)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 31%8 points higher than Dallas (23%)

Closest public schools

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

  • BJesus Moroles Expressive Arts VanguardElementary, Dallas ISD0.4 mi
  • BJesus Moroles Expressive Arts VanguardMiddle, Dallas ISD0.4 mi
  • BDr L G Pinkston Sr High SchoolHigh, Dallas ISD1.9 mi

Cost of living in Southwest Dallas

Median rent in Southwest Dallas is $1,330 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 $259,000, 19% lower than the Dallas median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,714 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereDallasTexas
Median rent10% lower than Dallas$1,330$1,472$1,403
Median home value19% lower than Dallas$259,000$320,700$283,800
Home value to income8% lower than Dallas4.2x4.5x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent9 points higher than Dallas61%52%52%
Homes owned by the people living in themAbout the same as Dallas43%42%63%
Vacant homes4 points lower than Dallas6.0%9.5%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Dallas198319811992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,714
Mortgage payment
$1,418
Property tax
$296
Median rent, for comparison
$1,330

Based on a $259,000 home in Southwest 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 income13% lower than Dallas$61,600$70,518$78,476
Unemployment rate2 points higher than Dallas6.8%4.9%5.3%
People below the poverty line4 points higher than Dallas21%17%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher18 points lower than Dallas20%38%34%
Average commute3% higher than Dallas27 min26 min27 min
Workers who work from home6 points lower than Dallas10%16%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than Dallas2.6%4.4%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet3 points lower than Dallas88%91%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

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

Who lives in Southwest Dallas

Under 1829%
18 to 3426%
35 to 6434%
65 and over11%
Race and ethnicity
White8.8%
Hispanic or Latino58%
Black30%
Asian1.4%
Other or more than one race2.1%

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-Acres HomesHouston
  2. DValley HiSan Antonio
  3. D-Crestmont ParkHouston

Questions about Southwest Dallas

Is Southwest Dallas a good place to live?

Southwest Dallas covers part of Dallas, TX, home to about 137,700 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 51st 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 Southwest Dallas?

Median rent in Southwest Dallas is $1,330 a month, 10% lower than the Dallas median. The median home is worth $259,000, 19% lower than the Dallas median. A median home costs 4.2x the median household income, compared with 4.5x across Dallas.

What schools serve Southwest Dallas?

The closest rated public schools are Jesus Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard (elementary, rated B), Jesus Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard (middle, rated B) and Dr L G Pinkston Sr High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 75 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.