The current construction in Dallas tells us why this city is not only one of the most populous cities in America, it’s also one of the fastest growing. Matter of fact, Downtown Dallas is expected to grow by leaps and bounds this year; so, if you’re thinking about moving to the Big D, you should be thinking about it now.
For many of us, it’s easy to get lost down Google’s rabbit hole when we go to search for places and neighborhoods that meet our specifications. And because HomeSnacks knows that the clock is ticking if you want to get your hands on one of Dallas’ best neighborhoods; so, we’ve done the work for you and below you can find a list of the top neighborhoods in D-town for 2026.
For all of you data nerds out there, this is how we determined the best neighborhoods in Dallas: first, we looked at the latest FBI data for crime reports, the Census report for population counts and housing costs, and the BLS data for current unemployment numbers for Dallas’ 33 neighborhoods. And for the people who care if there’s a bunch of cool stuff to do, we figured that if there are a lot of people in a neighborhood, there’s a good chance you won’t ever be bored.
And, folks, you will be happy to know that Dallas’ top five neighborhoods scored a 9/10 or better in terms of SnackAbility. But, don’t get it twisted, to afford the $415,220 price tag for homes in these areas, you’re going to need to make at least $77,677/year.
There are other great neighborhoods that made this Dallas list that are a tad bit more affordable. But, if you want to know more, you’re going to have to keep reading.
$198,578 median income · $1,176,311 median home value
Located in
Rockwall County, TexasUniversity Park is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States, an inner northern suburb of Dallas. The population was 23,068 at the 2010 census. The city is home to Southern Methodist University.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$197,247 median income · $1,383,288 median home value
Located in
Rockwall County, TexasHighland Park is a town in central Dallas County, Texas, United States. It is among the five wealthiest locations in Texas, and the most affluent suburb of Dallas. The population was 8,564 at the 2010 census. It is located between the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. Route 75, 4 miles north of downtown Dallas.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$106,446 median income · $559,310 median home value
$118,668 median income · $493,756 median home value
$106,301 median income · $470,647 median home value
$85,394 median income · $374,958 median home value
$78,733 median income · $326,434 median home value
$90,862 median income · $978,450 median home value
$78,164 median income · $309,550 median home value
$102,440 median income · $307,948 median home value
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Texas’s statewide median.
Texas statewide median: $78,476
Texas statewide median: $300,957
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the best Dallas, TX neighborhoods in 2026
To rank the best neighborhoods in Dallas, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 33 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Dallas.” We’re lookin’ at you, University Park.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Dallas, Texas has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Dallas.
The full plate
Table: Best Dallas neighborhoods for 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by neighborhood name.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Park | 24,259 | $1,176,311 | $198,578 |
| 2 | Highland Park | 8,797 | $1,383,288 | $197,247 |
| 3 | Bluffview | 13,662 | $559,310 | $106,446 |
| 4 | North Dallas | 40,580 | $493,756 | $118,668 |
| 5 | m Streets | 34,205 | $470,647 | $106,301 |
| 6 | Oak Lawn | 55,334 | $374,958 | $85,394 |
| 7 | Far North | 160,928 | $326,434 | $78,733 |
| 8 | West End Historic District | 1,277 | $978,450 | $90,862 |
| 9 | Northeast Dallas | 236,985 | $309,550 | $78,164 |
| 10 | Preston Hollow | 80,473 | $307,948 | $102,440 |
| 11 | Main Street District | 1,106 | $427,400 | $87,772 |
| 12 | Near East | 10,551 | $1,384,150 | $99,147 |
| 13 | Arts District | 1,278 | $801,300 | $96,459 |
| 14 | Reunion District | 1,195 | $423,700 | $92,419 |
| 15 | Winnetka Heights | 62,164 | $139,384 | $51,829 |
| 16 | Lake Highlands | 56,536 | $221,715 | $60,724 |
| 17 | Oak Cliff | 32,008 | $324,779 | $66,666 |
| 18 | Wolf Creek | 39,134 | $122,264 | $44,602 |
| 19 | City Center District | 2,636 | $581,167 | $89,039 |
| 20 | Southeast Dallas | 140,736 | $100,293 | $45,220 |
| 21 | Eagle Ford | 28,708 | $193,400 | $52,788 |
| 22 | Southwest Dallas | 104,394 | $157,393 | $55,405 |
| 23 | Five Mile Creek | 6,958 | $163,380 | $40,307 |
| 24 | Love Field Area | 12,066 | $258,800 | $44,328 |
| 25 | Convention Center District | 1,178 | $557,200 | $85,179 |
| 26 | Farmers Market District | 2,272 | $465,100 | $80,218 |
| 27 | Cockrell Hill | 4,240 | $83,650 | $42,243 |
| 28 | Government District | 1,020 | $470,667 | $86,907 |
| 29 | South Dallas | 31,153 | $92,479 | $35,903 |
| 30 | Cedar Crest | 67,875 | $83,769 | $33,363 |
| 31 | Urbandale-Parkdale | 25,716 | $78,462 | $33,974 |
| 32 | Northwest Dallas | 3,961 | $127,100 | $45,819 |
| 33 | South Boulevard-Park Row | 26,359 | $64,083 | $30,213 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. All 33 Dallas neighborhoods.
Summary
Summary: Putting a bow on our analysis of the best neighborhoods in Dallas
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Dallas where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Dallas are University Park, Highland Park, Bluffview, North Dallas, m Streets, Oak Lawn, Far North, West End Historic District, Northeast Dallas, and Preston Hollow.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Dallas aren’t all good. South Boulevard-Park Row takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Dallas.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below. Not sold on Texas? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Neighborhoods In Dallas FAQs
What is the best neighborhood in Dallas?
University Park is the best neighborhood in Dallas for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Highland Park and Bluffview are next.
What are the best neighborhoods in Dallas?
The best neighborhoods in Dallas are University Park, Highland Park, Bluffview, North Dallas, m Streets, Oak Lawn, Far North, West End Historic District, Northeast Dallas, and Preston Hollow. We ranked all 33 neighborhoods in the city.
How expensive is University Park?
The median household income in University Park is $198,578 and the median home costs $1,176,311. The best blocks in Dallas rarely come at a discount.
How do you rank Dallas neighborhoods?
Each neighborhood is scored on income, home values, population density, unemployment, and crime, using Census tract data. The neighborhood with the best combined score, University Park, takes the top spot.
Which Dallas neighborhood ranked last?
South Boulevard-Park Row came in last of the 33 neighborhoods we scored. Every city has a bottom of the table; in Dallas the numbers put it there.
