Unlocking affordability

Here's how much house you can get for $350,000 in Dallas, says new report

924 S Brighton Ave, Dallas home for sale

This 1,568-square-foot Dallas home is on the market for $350,000.

When it comes to buying a home that supplies the most space for the price, you don't get quite as much in Dallas proper as you do in some of its largest suburbs, a new study indicates.

For the study, real estate platform RealtyHop looked at how much square footage a homebuyer could get for a median price of $350,000 in the country’s 100 largest cities.

The study found that in Dallas, a buyer could pick up a 1,574 square foot home for $350,000, or $222.36 per square foot.

But in Plano, that size goes up to 1,741 square feet, or $201.03 per square foot. In Irving, it's 1,769 square feet, or $197.81 per square foot. In Garland, it's a whopping 2,013 square feet, $173.91 per square foot.

Across county lines, in Tarrant, buyers in Fort Worth can get 2,204 square feet ($172.92 per square foot) and in Arlington, they can get 2,056 square feet ($170.26 per square foot).

Note that the median home size in Texas is around 2,000 square feet.

To contrast with other large and fast-growing cities in Texas, the study found that in Houston, a buyer could pick up a 1,804-square-foot home for $350,000, or $194.06 per square foot. Whereas, in Austin, they get only a tiny 1,056-square-foot home ($332.10 per square foot).

RealtyHop cites Houston and San Antonio (2,116 square feet, $165.38 per square foot) as two of the standouts in the U.S. for affordable housing.

Nationally, San Francisco tops the list of least affordable cities. There, $350,000 will get you a measly 349 square feet of space ($1,003.18 per square foot). At the other end of the spectrum, that sum will get you the most space (4,769 square feet, close to the size of a small mansion) in Detroit. That adds up to just $73.39 per square foot.

“For many, the tradeoff between space and cost is a deciding factor on where they choose to settle down. Should you buy a tiny studio in Manhattan or a large townhouse in Atlanta?” RealtyHop observes. “The reality is that living in certain places often means downsizing your expectations.”

Here’s what $350,000 will buy you in the largest cities in Texas, according to RealtyHop:

Austin, 1,056 square feet, $332.10 per square foot.
Dallas, 1,574 square feet, $222.36 per square foot.
Plano, 1,741 square feet, $201.03 per square foot.
Irving, 1,769 square feet, $197.81 per square foot.
Houston, 1,804 square feet, $194.06 per square foot.
Garland, 2,013 square feet, $173.91 per square foot.
Fort Worth, 2,204 square feet, $172.92 per square foot.
Arlington, 2,056 square feet, $170.26 per square foot.
Corpus Christi, 2,092 square feet, $167.27 per square foot.
San Antonio, 2,116 square feet, $165.38 per square foot.
El Paso, 2,742 square feet, $127.65 per square foot.
Laredo, 2,842 square feet, $123.13 per square foot.
Lubbock, 3,569 square feet, $98.07 per square foot.

reports home-for-sale

hottest zips

Surprising Dallas neighbor ranks among hottest ZIP codes in U.S.

City of Lavon/Facebook

Movers are loving Lavon for its small-town feel and proximity to the big city.

A recent analysis of American relocation trends has revealed the small city of Lavon outside Dallas was one of the top five hottest ZIP code for movers nationwide in October 2025.

Lavon's 75166 ZIP code ranked No. 5 on MovingPlace's new list ranking the U.S. cities with the highest number of new movers per 1,000 current residents during the month of October.

According to the study's data, 961,650 moves took place across the nation last month. Lavon (population: 13,800) saw 10.8 moves per 1,000 residents in October, the fifth highest moving rate out of all U.S. cities.

Lavon is located 32 miles northeast of Dallas in Collin County. It was praised as a highly sought-after locale for movers who want to live somewhere affordable outside Dallas while still reaping the benefits from a community with a small-town feel.

The report also added that Lavon's 75166 ZIP was the No. 1 hottest ZIP code in September, but relocations dipped 7.7 percent from September to October.

"When looking at the top ZIP codes in each state, it’s clear that less populated ZIP codes often show dramatic month-over-month increases, sometimes exceeding 100 percent," the report said. "Larger cities, by contrast, maintain consistently high move volumes without extreme spikes, because their larger populations dampen the impact of individual moves."

These are the top 10 hottest U.S. ZIP codes based on moves per capita in October:

No. 1 – 78616 in Dale, Texas
No. 2 – 34987 in Port Saint Lucie, Florida
No. 3 – 37228 in Nashville, Tennessee
No. 4 – 80019 in Aurora, Colorado
No. 5 – 75166 in Lavon, Texas
No. 6 – 32461 in Inlet Beach, Florida
No. 7 – 10004 in New York, New York
No. 8 – 43137 in Lockbourne, Ohio
No. 9 – 30346 in Atlanta, Georgia
No. 10 – 78656 in Maxwell, Texas

The hottest U.S. ZIP codes by total move volume
Five Texas ZIPs ranked among MovingPlace's separate analysis of the top 10 hottest U.S. ZIP codes based on total move volume.

McKinney's ever-popular 75071 ZIP code ranked No. 5 on the list after gaining 298 new residents last month, only 72 residents shy from No. 1-ranking Washington, D.C.'s new resident count.

This North Dallas suburb also previously ranked as the No. 8 most popular ZIP for movers during the first five months of 2025.

The report said McKinney's most attractive qualities are its safety, its high-performing schools, and its proximity to outdoor recreational activities. it also helps that the suburb consistently ranks as the No. 1 hottest housing market in America, and it frequently tops lists comparing the best cities for renters or the most affordable cities in the U.S.

The top 10 hottest American ZIP codes in October based on total move volume were:

No. 1 – 20002 in Washington, D.C.
No. 2 – 78130 in New Braunfels, Texas
No. 3 – 78641 in Leander, Texas
No. 4 – 77433 in Cypress, Texas
No. 5 – 75071 in McKinney, Texas
No. 6 –32256 in Jacksonville, Florida
No. 7 –77493 in Katy, Texas
No. 8 – 85142 in Queen Creek, Arizona
No. 9 – 98052 in Redmond, Washington
No. 10 – 28269 in Charlotte, North Carolina

suburb real estate housing market moving mckinney dallas