Money news

Dallas ranks as No. 1 city with smallest inflation problem in U.S.

Dallas' inflation woes have cooled off.

Inflation has been one of the biggest hot-button issues in the country in 2025, but a new study says inflation not impacting Dallas nearly as much as it is other U.S. cities.

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked as the metro with the smallest inflation problem in the U.S. in WalletHub's new report, "Changes in Inflation by City."

The report analyzed the impact of inflation across 23 major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) using Consumer Price Index data from the latest month available and compared to data from two months prior. The analysis also factored in inflation data from last year to better track both short- and long-term inflation changes.

Dallas saw only a 0.10 percent increase in its local inflation rate when compared to two months prior, and the rate is only 0.60 percent higher than it was this time last year.

Dallas residents may be feeling the sting a lot less than they did in January 2024, when WalletHub said the city had the No. 1 highest inflation rate in the U.S. In April 2023, Dallas-Fort Worth had the 10th highest inflation rate nationwide.

The study found Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire is the MSA that is currently being rattled by the highest inflation rate in the nation. The northeastern metro saw a 1.10 percent uptick in inflation when compared to two months ago, and it's 3 percent higher than it was a year ago.

Inflation has continued to fluctuate throughout the year in different areas, but WalletHub said the national inflation rate has significantly lowered since it last hit a 40-year high during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The year-over-year inflation rate sits at 2.4 percent as of May 2025, which is still above the target rate of 2 percent," the report said. "Various factors, such as the war in Ukraine, labor shortages and recent tariffs, drive this higher than average inflation. Despite the country not meeting its target yet, the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates at the level set in December 2024."

Elsewhere in Texas, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land experienced the 13th highest inflation rate in the U.S., the report found. Inflation in the region increased 0.90 percent over the last two months, and it is currently 1.2 percent higher than it was one year ago.

The top 10 metros where inflation has risen the most are:

No. 1 – Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire
No. 2 – St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois
No. 3 – Baltimore-Columbia-Townson, Maryland
No. 4 – San Diego-Carlsbad, California
No. 5 – Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado
No. 6 – Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 7 – Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California
No. 8 – Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin
No. 9 – Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California
No. 10 – New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania

arlington dallas economy fort worth inflation report wallethub

income news

This affluent Dallas neighbor is America's 6th wealthiest suburb

City of University Park, TX - Government / Facebook

University Park is the sixth most affluent suburb in America.

University Park has long been considered Dallas' richest neighbor, and a new study has revealed that the average household income in the affluent enclave has soared 60 percent in the last decade.

The report from GoBankingRates, called "America’s Wealthiest Suburbs Today Compared to 10 Years Ago," tracked the average household income across the nation's 50 wealthiest suburbs from 2014 to 2024. Cities had to have at least 5,000 households and be part of a large metro area to qualify. Income data was sourced from the Census Bureau.

In the new report, University Park maintains its elite status as the sixth wealthiest suburb in America for the third year in a row. Its current rank is two spots higher than where it ranked in 2016, at No. 8 nationwide.

The findings also confirm that its residents have certainly become richer over time. According to Census Bureau data, University Park households made $254,422 in average income 2014, which has since surged to $407,253 in 2024.

Two more affluent Dallas-Fort Worth neighbors – Southlake and Colleyville – also rank among the 50 wealthiest American suburbs.

Southlake is the country's eighth wealthiest suburb for 2026, up from No. 16 in 2016. Average household income in this area has grown from $232,034 in 2014 to $384,530 as of 2024, the study found. That's a growth rate of about 66 percent in a single decade.

Colleyville, meanwhile, has surprisingly dropped down the list of the wealthiest suburbs over the last 10 years. It currently ranks 46th but previously ranked 28th in 2016, according to GoBankingRates. Average household income in this particular DFW city has increased 35 percent, from $205,828 to $277,720 in 2024.

For an additional data point, the study included the average home value of each city as of January 2026:

University Park – $2,507,381
Southlake – $1,264,386
Colleyville – $896,635

Other affluent suburbs in Texas
Houston neighbors West University Place and Bellaire both appear among the top 20 wealthiest American suburbs for 2026.

West University Place is America's second-wealthiest suburb, with residents making $439,594 in average household income in 2024. That's nearly 50 percent more than the $294,723 average income in 2014.

Bellaire ranks 18th on the list with an average household income of $335,492 as of 2024, up from $226,295 in 2014.

The average value of a home in West University Place was $1,638,701 as of January 2026, and Bellaire has an average home value of $1,154,776.

The top 10 wealthiest suburbs in America in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Scarsdale, New York
No. 2 – West University Place, Texas
No. 3 – Rye, New York
No. 4 – Los Altos, California
No. 5 – Paradise Valley, Arizona
No. 6 – University Park, Texas
No. 7 – Alamo, California
No. 8 – Southlake, Texas
No. 9 – McLean, Virginia
No. 10 – Orinda, California

income gobankingrates.com suburbs dallas fort worth