Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington and Durham-Chapel Hill receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | Durham-Chapel Hill | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,985,590 | 601,724 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,275 | $83,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,949 | $50,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 920/sq mi | 342/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $359,500 | $396,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,614 | $1,466 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.1% | 62.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 53.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 12.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 62,553 | 8,526 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.8 | 14.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -10.9% | 72.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.0" | 46.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 25.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.6 | 37.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Durham-Chapel Hill
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metro Area · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology