Moving to Dallas from Denver: A 2026 Relocation Guide for Colorado Transplants

How do Colorado and Texas taxes actually compare?

This is usually the first question Denver-area clients ask, and the numbers are straightforward: Colorado applies a flat 4.4% state income tax on nearly all earned income, while Texas has none. For a dual-income household earning $250,000–$350,000 a year, that's routinely $11,000–$15,000 in annual state income tax that simply disappears after a move to Dallas. Texas offsets this with higher property tax rates — Dallas County runs close to 1.7% of assessed value versus Colorado's typically sub-1% rate — but for most relocating professionals with a meaningful salary, the income tax savings outweigh the added property tax by a wide margin.

Is housing more affordable in Dallas than in Denver?

Generally, yes, particularly once you move outside Denver's most in-demand pockets. Dallas-Fort Worth's suburbs — Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen — have kept building at a pace Denver's geography and zoning simply can't match, which has kept per-square-foot prices meaningfully more accessible even as demand has grown. Buyers relocating from the Denver metro often find they can move up in square footage, lot size, or neighborhood tier for a comparable or lower monthly payment once the tax picture is factored in.

What do relocating families from Colorado look for in a Dallas suburb?

School ratings, commute time to a corporate campus, and some version of the outdoor/community feel they had in Colorado top the list. Plano and Frisco consistently draw Denver transplants for their school districts and newer master-planned communities; McKinney appeals to buyers who want more of a small-town, historic-downtown feel; and buyers who want to stay closer to central Dallas for a shorter commute tend to look at Lakewood or the White Rock Lake area for its trails and green space.

What should Colorado buyers expect from the Dallas closing process?

Texas closings are typically fast — 30 to 45 days is standard — and buyers get a dedicated, paid option period to inspect the home and walk away if needed, which isn't universal practice in every state. Given how much of DFW's growth comes from corporate relocation, remote closings, video walkthroughs, and coordinating around a still-in-progress Denver departure are all routine for an experienced relocation specialist to manage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Texas really cheaper than Colorado for relocating professionals?
For most relocating professionals, yes. Texas has no state income tax at all, while Colorado applies a flat 4.4% income tax on nearly all earned income. On a household income in the $200,000–$400,000 range, that difference alone can be worth $10,000–$18,000 a year back in your pocket — before even factoring in Dallas's generally lower cost of housing per square foot compared to Denver and its close-in suburbs.

How do Dallas property taxes compare to Denver's?
Texas leans more on property tax since there's no income tax to offset it — Dallas County's average effective rate runs close to 1.7% of assessed value, higher than Colorado's typically sub-1% rate. Most relocating Colorado buyers still come out ahead overall once the income tax savings are factored in, but it's worth budgeting for a noticeably larger annual property tax bill here.

What Dallas suburbs are popular with Denver transplants?
Plano, Frisco, and McKinney are the most common landing spots for Denver-area families relocating for corporate jobs, largely because of top-rated school districts and newer housing stock similar to what buyers find in Denver's outer suburbs. Buyers who want more of an in-town, walkable feel closer to what Denver's LoDo or Cherry Creek offers tend to look at Knox-Henderson, Uptown, or Lakewood instead.

“I'd tell them she made the entire process feel much less stressful than I expected. From buying our new home to selling our previous one, she and her team were knowledgeable, responsive, and always willing to help. She connected us with great professionals, kept everything moving, and was there whenever we had questions. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Lacey and her team to anyone. She genuinely cares about her clients and it shows!”
— Alyson Mendez, Northlake, TX (relocated from Garland, TX) (BUYING & SELLING)

Lacey Brutschy has been licensed in Texas real estate since 2010 (16 years of experience) and closes 50–60 transactions a year, with more than $100 million in career residential sales volume. She is consistently ranked in the Wall Street Journal's Top 1% of the nation's real estate agents and recognized as a Top 100 Dallas-Fort Worth Realtor. Lacey holds the RENE, CIAS, SRS, SFR, and Luxury Real Estate designations and specializes in guiding relocating professionals and executives to Dallas-Fort Worth. Contact Lacey to start your Dallas relocation search.