National Center for Healthy Housing

Dallas, TX

	Overall Rankings
	Metro Area (out of 45):
	Healthy Housing: 37th
	Prior Rank: 39th
	Central City (out of 44):
	Healthy Housing: 24th
	Prior Rank: 39th
	Click here for comparison to prior report.
	Data source: 2011 American Housing Survey

Location Summary

Positive Findings: Compared to the national average, the Dallas area had fewer homes with signs of mice, water leaks from the outside, and a lack of adequate kitchen facilities. Central city homes were less likely to have problems with evidence of mice, water leaks from the outside, and a lack of kitchen facilities when compared to the national average. Areas outside the central city had fewer signs of mice and were less likely to lack kitchen facilities. Rental homes were less likely to have broken plaster or peeling paint, signs of mice, or a lack of kitchen facilities. Compared to the national average, owner-occupied homes had fewer units with evidence of mice, water leaks from the outside, and a lack of kitchen facilities.

Areas for Improvement: Dallas-area homes had more problems with open cracks or holes in the walls, signs of rats, water leaks from inside, water supply stoppage, flush toilet breakdowns, and siding, roofing, window, and foundation problems when compared to the national average. Central city units were more likely to have problems with open cracks or holes in the walls, water supply stoppage, and siding, window, and foundation problems. Outside the central city, there was a greater than average likelihood that units would suffer problems with open cracks and holes in the walls and floors, evidence of rats, water leaks from inside, breakdowns in flush toilets and sewage disposal systems, a lack of complete plumbing, and siding, roofing, window, and foundation problems.

Community Information: The Dallas MSA is comprised of Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties, Texas. In 2011, the MSA included 1,531,093 occupied dwelling units, 41.3% of which were located in the central city of Dallas. The housing stock of the MSA ranked among the youngest and most heavily rental of the cities surveyed. The percentage of pre-1940 homes ranked 10th-youngest (4.0%) for the MSA and 8th-youngest (5.9%) for the central city. The median house age in the Dallas MSA was 1984. The percentage of rental units ranked 10th-most heavily rental (40.8%) for the MSA and 16th-most heavily rental (54.4%) for the central city. Compared to other locations, Dallas had a higher poverty rate. Its poverty rate ranked 35th (15.8%) for the MSA and 28th (21.3%) for homes in the central city.