Apartments for Rent in Dallas
Welcome to Dallas! This vibrant city offers a diverse range of neighborhoods, each with its own unique charm and personality. Whether you crave a bustling downtown scene, a charming historic district, or a quiet family-friendly pocket, Dallas has something for everyone.
Luckily, unlike some major cities such as New York and LA, Dallas is neither quite as pricey for renters nor as competitive. Get starting by exploring various neighborhoods, like Uptown Dallas information, which known for its trendy bars and restaurants, or Deep Ellum, a historic district with a thriving music scene.
When selecting a neighborhood, consider your lifestyle: Do you prioritize walkability? Check out walkable areas like Lower Greenville. Need easy access to public transportation? Look into neighborhoods near DART stations (link to Dallas Area Rapid Transit).
Finally, know that rents can vary significantly across Dallas. Our tools can help you identify the best location for your budget and desired amenities. Read on to learn more!
Transportation in Dallas
Dallas offers a wide variety of options for commuters, from public transit to private cars. Here are some suggestions about where to rent depending on which mode of transport you prefer.
For walkable areas, consider neighborhoods like:
- Lower Greenville: Bustling with shops, restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife scene within walking distance.
- Uptown: A trendy district with a mix of bars, restaurants, and offices, offering good walkability.
- Knox-Henderson: Known for its art galleries, shops, and a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.
- Biking: While not as extensive as other cities, Dallas has a growing network of bike lanes. Look for neighborhoods with dedicated bike paths or close proximity to trails.
Public Transportation is widely available thanks to the light rail and bus systems. Here's some essential information about public transportation:
- DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit): A reliable light rail and bus system connecting major points in the city.
- Neighborhood selection: Prioritize areas near DART stations for convenient access. Look for apartments with addresses mentioning "DART" or stations within walking distance. You can explore the DART system on their website.
Driving is definitely an option in Dallas, but expect traffic during rush hours:
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Traffic: Dallas experiences rush hour congestion, especially on major highways like I-35 and I-635.
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Neighborhood considerations: If you rely heavily on your car, look for areas with easy access to highways and ample street parking.
Pet-Friendly Apartment Hunting in Dallas
Dallas does not regulate what kinds of breeds can live within city limits, which means pet restrictions will be up to your landlord. Currently, there are 448 apartments in the Dallas metro area listed on our website that accept pets, so you'll have plenty of options to choose from. Here are a few issues you might encounter:
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Weight restrictions: While dogs are popular even in the busiest parts of the city, be aware that many buildings (especially high-rises) have weight limits for pets, often stricter than other locations.
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Building size and amenities: Larger buildings and those with dedicated pet amenities like dog runs are more likely to be pet-friendly.
FAQs about Dallas Apartments
Still have questions about renting in Dallas? Here are some of the most common queries people have about the city:
Is Dallas a cheap place to live?
With an average rent of $1,505 for a one-bedroom, Dallas is certainly cheaper than places like New York (where a one-bedroom will cost you $4,385 a month), but not necessarily more affordable than many of the smaller towns and cities in the area. We recommend that in order to afford a one-bedroom in that price range, you make around $60,000 a year.
What is the best area to live in Dallas?
While there are many great neighborhoods in Dallas, one district that offers a lot of the kinds of amenities renters are looking for (walkability, a trendy neighborhood, and great entertainment) is Deep Ellum. While perhaps a bit more expensive than other parts of Dallas (within an average one-bedroom rent price of $1,657), Deep Ellum is a beautiful historical district that offers the best of Dallas.
Dallas Neighborhoods
For anyone new to the area, there are a number of cities surrounding Dallas that aren't, well, Dallas. In the manner of some New Jersey realtors who mislead couples into thinking that 45 minutes from “the city” isn't that bad, I’m here to tell you that 45 minutes is more like an hour and a half. Yes, it is that bad. Allen, Plano, Richardson, Frisco and McKinney are all great areas in their own right, but for the sake of shorter commute times, they won’t be covered. However, if commute time isn't an issue, then definitely do not cross them off your list.
Regardless of the neighborhood, one consistent feature of Dallas is the amazing and sometimes extremely hot weather - May through October, the average daily high tops 80 degrees. As a result of this many Dallas apartment communities focus on providing amenities to help their residents deal with the extreme heat. Almost every apartment in Dallas will come equipped with air conditioning and many of the communities have invested significantly in having great outdoor pool areas and indoor gyms for their residents to enjoy.
Using downtown as a reference point, let’s get to the Dallas neighborhoods.
Addison
With minimal traffic, Addison is located a quick 15 minutes north of downtown on the Tollway. Addison is actually a city in its’ own right, so technically it’s not a Dallas neighborhood; but since it’s so close, you might as well give it a look. Thankfully, Addison is home to tons of apartments. If you’re a recent graduate, you’ll definitely feel welcome among the large number of young professionals that already call the trendy Addison Circle area “home”. Apartment prices in Addison are varied and definitely dependent upon location and type; older complexes outside the Addison Circle area run around $600-$900 per month, whereas units within the actual Circle neighborhood itself start at about $800. Addison is also home to a large number of restaurants and bars, and totes some excellent shopping as well.
Deep Ellum
An artsy little enclave just east of downtown, Deep Ellum is literally on the easternmost edge of downtown Dallas. Deep Ellum is a historic little neighborhood with industrial roots and a gritty past. Happily, Deep Ellum today is yet again an arts and entertainment district with a quirky and independent personality. Most of the apartments in this area are loft-style, and, as such, tend to run a bit pricier than most other homes, usually upwards of $700. Thankfully, the price of your place will be complimented by the excellent batch of restaurants nearby, many of which have earned citywide recognition for their unique and delicious menus. Still not convinced? How about living just a few blocks from the Dallas Farmers Market? Yeah, we thought that sounded pretty nice too.
Downtown Dallas
Honestly, outside of Dallas, downtown doesn't have the most amazing reputation. Downtown is full of historical, Art Deco-style buildings that languished for years before developers saw the potential in converting them to residences. Downtown today is an entirely different area than it was even ten years ago. Zagat-rated restaurants dot Main Street and the flagship location of the celebrated luxury retailer Neiman Marcus all sit pretty in the downtown area. Buildings that once housed old telephone companies now offer sweeping views of the skyline from rooftop decks and pools. Many Downtown apartments are not near parks and as a result have gone out of their way to offer services to the pet friendly crowd. These apartments will often have dog parks and sometimes even contract with local dog walkers to provide in unit pet care. Downtown has been slowly luring people back over the past several years, and it now boasts a thriving nightlife for all you club fanatics. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the gorgeously renovated apartments run a little steep, starting around $800 and running as high as $2,000.
Highland Park/University Park: Located approximately 5 minutes north of downtown, the Highland Park/University Park (“Park Cities”) area doesn't typically bring “apartments” to mind, but there are actually quite a few town homes, duplexes and condos in the area to explore. The closer you get to Southern Methodist University, the more town homes you’ll find, but they’re not exclusively student-housing, and the students who do live there aren't typically the rowdy, Animal House-style kids (they live on campus in the fraternity houses). Home to the country’s first outdoor shopping center, Highland Park Village, as well as the historic Snyder Plaza, this area features some of the best shopping and eating around. There’s usually a unit or two to be found, but beware: They go quickly and typically cost upwards of $1,000 per month for a one bedroom apartment, minimum.
Knox-Henderson
Situated a whopping 2 minutes south of the Park Cities and 5 minutes north of downtown, the Knox-Henderson area is where you’ll find an eclectic group of people. Apartments in this area are very near the Katy Trail, Dallas’ most popular jogging and biking trail, and are typically smaller, two and three story complexes, which are exceptionally well-kept. Since this area is getting close to the coveted Uptown district, rent runs from around $600 in one of the smaller, older complexes (old in this case does not mean dilapidated) to upwards of $1,200 in one of the über-trendy boutique-style apartments.
Oak Lawn
A couple blocks west of Uptown, Oak Lawn is Uptown’s quirky, free-spirited sister. A mixed crowd, this neighborhood isn't exclusively young people, old people or families; you’ll find a little bit of everything. There are extremely fancy (read: pricey) high-rises, quaint one-bedroom apartments and the odd town-home. This area is close to everything: downtown is a stone’s throw away, there’s easy access to the Tollway and Interstate 75 and there are restaurants galore. This area and Uptown are pretty sought-after, so you’ll need to do some digging to A) find what you want, and B) so you don’t get ripped off. Similar to the Knox-Henderson area, the older apartments in Oak Lawn are rather nice, so don’t be dissuaded by the date the complex was built, you’ll just need to do a little research. Expect rent to increase from around $700 for at older complex to close to $5,000 for a new town home.
Uptown
Ah, Uptown. Saved the best for last…or did I? If you’re young, don’t mind noise, and value being able to walk to and from bars and restaurants, then this is your best bet. If you would prefer a quieter locale, free of inebriated neighbors at late hours, guess what? It’s the best for you too. You see, Uptown is a small neighborhood approximately 3 minutes from downtown, but it is absolutely jam-packed with apartments and condos. There are trendy addresses that are too noisy to validate the cost, then there are the equally nice and equally convenient apartments across the street (any street, there are literally apartments everywhere) that are substantially less noisy and likely cost a little less. Uptown encompasses the hoppin' of section McKinney Avenue comes packed with no less than 50 bars and restaurants, selling everything from Jello-shots and French fries to Lychee martinis and gourmet sushi. Rent is reflective of how close you want to be to the action and what in unit amenities you want: $2,000 will get you a two bedroom apartment with a washer and dryer above a shopping center, whereas for a more modest $800 you can live a block and a half away and walk to the shopping center. The choice is entirely up to you.
