Dallas - TX vs Washington - DC: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Washington - DC is roughly 59% more expensive than Dallas - TX in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Dallas - TX (38 days vs 19), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Dallas - TX sees more listings with price cuts (34.0% vs 29.4%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Dallas vs Washington: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,984 a month in principal and interest in Dallas and $3,156 in Washington, a gap of $1,172 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,659 in Dallas and $2,407 in Washington, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.2 times rent in Dallas and 1.3 times rent in Washington, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 18.0 years of rent in Dallas and 19.7 in Washington; the lower ratio in Dallas means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -5.8% in Dallas and +0.7% in Washington; over just the last three months the change was -0.1% in Dallas and +0.3% in Washington.

Homes sell for 98.0% of list price in Dallas and 99.7% in Washington, after 38 and 19 days on the market, with price cuts on 34% and 29% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Dallas.

The number of homes for sale is down 4% on a year ago in Dallas and up 12% on a year ago in Washington.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.