Dallas’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in Dallas.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in Dallas. Some neighborhoods aren’t as great as others.
So the question arises, which Dallas neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?
Today, we’ll use science and data to determine which Dallas hoods need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the Dallas area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although University Park ranks way above the rest.
We examined 32 of Dallas’s neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don’t quite measure up to Dallas’s reputation.
Here are the 10 worst neighborhoods in Dallas according to data:
So what’s the worst neighborhood to live in Dallas for 2020? According to the most recent census data, Northwest Dallas looks to be the worst neighborhood in Dallas.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Dallas that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.
Once you’re done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best.
Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Dallas.
For more Texas reading, check out:
The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Dallas For 2020
/10
Population: 2,158
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $79,700 (9th worst)
Median Income: $18,936 (1st worst)
More on Northwest Dallas: Data
Northwest Dallas is an area consisting of many communities and neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas,.
There are a number of residential and commercial neighborhoods in Northwest Dallas. Of particular note are Love Field, home of Dallas Love Field airport, and the Stemmons Corridor, a stretch of hotels and office towers along Interstate 35E. The Asian Trade District is located just south of the I-35E/I-635 junction.
Love Field is also home to Bachman Lake, a small freshwater lake, fed by the Bachman Branch of the Trinity River.
/10
Population: 28,901
Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $60,262 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $34,588 (7th worst)
More on South Dallas: Data
South Dallas is an area in Dallas, Texas. It is south of Downtown Dallas, bordered by Highway 67 on the west and Highway 175 down to the Trinity River on the east. In recent years the City of Dallas and organizations including Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together Dallas have begun revitalizing the area in an effort to make the area more attractive to homeowners and foster economic development.
/10
Population: 26,359
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $64,083 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $30,213 (4th worst)
More on South Boulevard-Park Row: Data
South Boulevard-Park Row Historic District is located in the southern part of Dallas, Texas.
It was added to the National Register in February 5, 1979.
/10
Population: 63,686
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $55,183 (1st worst)
Median Income: $26,592 (2nd worst)
More on Cedar Crest: Data
/10
Population: 27,680
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 5)
Median Home Value: $108,610 (14th worst)
Median Income: $36,658 (8th worst)
More on Eagle Ford: Data
The Eagle Ford community developed just east of an important early crossing on the west fork of the Trinity River. The area was first settled by the family of Enoch Horton, who moved there from Missouri in November 1844. When Horton found an eagle’s nest in the area, he named the crossing Eagle Ford. Soon after, several families from the nearby community of La Runion settled in Eagle Ford. Enoch’s son James built the Eagle Ford Grist Mill and donated land in 1857 for the Horton Cemetery. He also gave land for the Texas and Pacific Railway right-of-way and depot. In 1858, a post office opened in Eagle Ford and it remained in operation until 1866.
/10
Population: 36,321
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $69,264 (5th worst)
Median Income: $37,023 (9th worst)
More on Wolf Creek: Data
/10
Population: 134,095
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $73,131 (7th worst)
Median Income: $34,440 (6th worst)
More on Southeast Dallas: Data
/10
Population: 25,716
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $78,462 (8th worst)
Median Income: $33,974 (5th worst)
More on Urbandale-Parkdale: Data
Parkdale Heights is a neighborhood in east Dallas, Texas. The official name for the neighborhood is Parkdale, the neighborhood was established in 1926. It is bounded on the west by railroad tracks, on the northwest by railroad tracks, on the north by Military Parkway, on the east by Bisbee Drive and on the south by Scyene Road.
Parkdale Lake is located within the neighborhood.
/10
Population: 10,475
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $68,588 (4th worst)
Median Income: $41,582 (11th worst)
More on Love Field Area: Data
/10
Population: 6,598
Rank Last Year: 8 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $83,883 (11th worst)
Median Income: $26,902 (3rd worst)
More on Five Mile Creek: Data
How we determined the worst Dallas hoods in 2020
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Dallas:
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)
- High crime (Estimated)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Dallas, Texas for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criteria into a “Worst Score”.
The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the worst neighborhood of Dallas.
Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Dallas to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 32 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.
The ‘hoods around Dallas that are really hoods
Well there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Dallas with Northwest Dallas landing at the bottom of the pack.
As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Dallas aren’t all bad. University Park takes the cake as the best place to live in Dallas.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more Texas reading, check out:
- Most Ghetto Cities In Texas
- Richest Cities In Texas
- Safest Places In Texas
- Best Cities For Singles In Texas
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Texas
Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Dallas For 2020?
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Dallas | 2,158 |
| 2 | South Dallas | 28,901 |
| 3 | South Boulevard-Park Row | 26,359 |
| 4 | Cedar Crest | 63,686 |
| 5 | Eagle Ford | 27,680 |
| 6 | Wolf Creek | 36,321 |
| 7 | Southeast Dallas | 134,095 |
| 8 | Urbandale-Parkdale | 25,716 |
| 9 | Love Field Area | 10,475 |
| 10 | Five Mile Creek | 6,598 |
| 11 | Southwest Dallas | 105,590 |
| 12 | Cockrell Hill | 4,240 |
| 13 | Lake Highlands | 55,362 |
| 14 | Winnetka Heights | 65,571 |
| 15 | Oak Cliff | 32,091 |
| 16 | Near East | 11,216 |
| 17 | Convention Center District | 920 |
| 18 | Reunion District | 834 |
| 19 | Northeast Dallas | 241,397 |
| 20 | West End Historic District | 874 |
| 21 | City Center District | 1,636 |
| 22 | Farmers Market District | 1,688 |
| 23 | Preston Hollow | 83,392 |
| 24 | Government District | 850 |
| 25 | Main Street District | 987 |
| 26 | M Streets | 34,572 |
| 27 | Far North | 163,453 |
| 28 | Oak Lawn | 50,766 |
| 29 | Bluffview | 15,001 |
| 30 | North Dallas | 40,893 |
| 31 | Highland Park | 8,797 |
| 32 | University Park | 24,259 |
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