Virginia vs. Dallas: Military and Government Workers' Relocation Comparison 2026 | Little Elm Buyers Agent
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Virginia and Dallas represent two of America’s largest military and government employment hubs — the Washington D.C. corridor with its dense concentration of federal agencies and the Pentagon versus North Texas’ expanding defense industry and strategic military installations.
Between 2020 and 2026, 18,000+ military members, veterans, and government contractors relocated from Virginia to Texas, with Dallas–Fort Worth capturing the majority.
Why are military and government families making the move?
Cost of living differences
State income tax vs. Texas $0
BAH reality vs. real housing prices
Defense contractor ecosystem comparison
VA services and retirement considerations
School performance near installations
Long-term wealth building
This 2026 guide breaks down everything military and government workers need to know.
Military & Government Presence: Understanding Both Markets
Virginia Military Installations
Virginia holds one of the largest concentrations of active-duty personnel in the United States.
Major Installations:
Pentagon (Arlington) – 23,000+ military and civilian
Naval Station Norfolk – 75,000+ (world’s largest naval base)
Joint Base Langley-Eustis – 25,000+
Marine Corps Base Quantico – 12,000+
Fort Belvoir – 30,000+
NAS Oceana – 10,000+
Fort Lee – 25,000+
Total Virginia Active Duty Personnel: 130,000+
Virginia is the epicenter of U.S. military command and federal operations.
Dallas–Fort Worth Military Installations
Dallas has a smaller active-duty footprint but strong reserve and defense presence.
Major Installations:
Naval Air Station Fort Worth / JRB – 13,000+
Fort Cavazos (2.5 hours south) – 36,000+
Dyess AFB (3 hours west) – 4,500+
Sheppard AFB (2 hours northwest) – 8,000+
Total DFW Active Personnel: 13,000+ locally, 80,000+ within 3 hours
Virginia dominates in active-duty density. Dallas has strategic aerospace presence with regional support bases.
Federal Civilian Workforce Comparison
Metric | Virginia (DMV) | Dallas–Fort Worth |
Federal Civilian Employees | 350,000+ | 28,000+ |
Security Clearance Jobs | 200,000+ | 15,000+ |
Avg GS Salary | $108,000 | $85,000 |
Virginia has 12× more federal civilian jobs. Career mobility and agency proximity favor the DC corridor.
Dallas works best for:
Established GS employees in regional offices
Transitioning veterans
Defense contractors moving private-sector
Defense Contractors & Cleared Job Market
Northern Virginia Contractors
Northrop Grumman – 25,000+
Booz Allen Hamilton – 17,000+
Leidos – 15,000+
General Dynamics – 12,000+
CACI, SAIC, Raytheon, L3Harris
Total NoVA Contractor Jobs: 150,000+
Top Secret / SCI opportunities are abundant.
Dallas–Fort Worth Contractors
Lockheed Martin (F-35 production) – 15,000+
Bell Textron – 5,500+
Raytheon – 4,000+
General Dynamics – 3,500+
L3Harris – 3,000+
Total DFW Contractor Jobs: 40,000+
Virginia has 3–4× more cleared roles.Dallas offers strong aerospace-focused opportunities anchored by Lockheed.
Cost of Living: The Major Financial Divider
Category | Northern Virginia | Dallas–Fort Worth |
Overall Index | 152 | 102 |
Housing | 198 | 108 |
Groceries | 110 | 101 |
Transportation | 117 | 109 |
A lifestyle costing $10,000/month in NoVA costs roughly $6,700/month in Dallas.
Annual savings: ~$39,600
Housing Costs: The Military Family Game-Changer
What $700,000 Buys You
Northern Virginia:
2,200–2,600 sq ft
Townhome or modest single-family
Older construction
30–60 minute commute
Dallas–Fort Worth:
4,000–4,500 sq ft
5 bedrooms
New construction
3-car garage
Master-planned amenities
20–40 minute commute
Dallas delivers nearly 80% more square footage.
BAH Comparison (2026)
E-7 With Dependents
Location | Monthly BAH |
Pentagon (Arlington) | $3,261 |
Quantico | $2,943 |
JRB Fort Worth | $1,836 |
Virginia BAH rates are higher — but housing costs frequently exceed BAH by $500–$1,500 monthly.
Texas BAH is lower but closer to actual housing costs outside immediate base zones.
Taxes: The Critical Difference
Virginia State Income Tax vs. Texas $0
Income | Virginia Tax | Texas Tax | Savings |
$125K | $6,313 | $0 | $6,313 |
$175K | $9,213 | $0 | $9,213 |
$250K | $13,563 | $0 | $13,563 |
Military retirement pay is exempt in both states.
However:
Second career income
Spouse income
Investment income
Is taxed in Virginia — but not in Texas.
Property Tax Trade-Off
Virginia | Dallas | |
Effective Rate | 0.80–1.15% | 1.94–2.35% |
Texas property taxes are higher.However, home prices per square foot are dramatically lower.
For a $150,000 household:
Total tax burden is nearly equal —But Dallas provides far more house.
Salary Comparison (Cleared Positions)
Position | NoVA | Dallas |
Systems Engineer (TS/SCI) | $145K | $125K |
Program Manager | $135K | $120K |
Cyber (TS/SCI) | $155K | $135K |
Virginia salaries run 11–15% higher.But Dallas cost of living is 33% lower — meaning higher real purchasing power.
Schools Near Installations
Virginia
Fairfax County – 92% graduation
Prince William – 89%
Virginia Beach – 90%
Dallas Near JRB
Keller ISD – 96%
Northwest ISD – 97%
Carroll ISD – 99%
Dallas suburban schools consistently rank among the strongest in Texas at lower housing costs.
Best Areas Near JRB Fort Worth
Keller
8–15 min commute
$450K–$950K
Strong military presence
Trophy Club / Roanoke
10–15 min
$500K–$1.2M
Southlake
12–18 min
Elite Carroll ISD
What Military Families Say
Virginia Strengths
Dense military community
Career advancement proximity
Historic DC access
Multiple commissaries and exchanges
Dallas Strengths
Homeownership possible on mid-level ranks
Shorter commutes
Financial freedom
Space for families
Strong veteran respect culture
Military Retiree Financial Example (10-Year Outlook)
Retiree + GS-12 second careerIncome: $135,000
Virginia
10-year projected net worth: ~$440,500
Dallas
10-year projected net worth: ~$846,700
Dallas Advantage: ~$406,200
Plus significantly larger home.
Bottom Line: Which Is Right for You?
Choose Virginia If:
Active duty assigned to Pentagon, Norfolk, Quantico
Federal career advancement is priority
TS/SCI proximity required
Military community immersion matters
Choose Dallas If:
PCSing to JRB or separating
Maximizing retirement income matters
You want homeownership and equity
You’re joining Lockheed, Bell, Raytheon
Schools and space are top priorities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is military retirement taxed?
No in both states. Texas has no state income tax on any income.
Can I buy in Dallas as E-6 or O-2?
Yes, VA loan makes ownership realistic at $350K–$475K price points.
Is Dallas military-friendly?
Yes — strong veteran culture, pro-service community.
Does Virginia offer better federal promotion opportunities?
Yes — proximity to agencies matters for GS advancement.
Is Dallas VA Medical Center good?
Yes — large, well-regarded facility with strong civilian hospital network nearby.
Contact Nitin Gupta, CRS, GRI
D Magazine Best Realtor 2020, 2023, 2024
Military & Government Relocation Specialist
Phone: 469-269-6541
Email: nitin@nitinguptadfw.com
Schedule: https://www.nitinguptadfw.com/contact-us
Call us at 469-269-6541 for more information about Little Elm real estate!
About us: Little Elm New Construction Expert Real Estate Agent
As a Top Real Estate Professional in Little Elm, I understand the challenges that arise when buying a new construction home. There are over 100 builders in the DFW area. I work with most of the new home builders in Little Elm and understand how various builders operate. I am familiar with the options they offer, current incentives and I frequently visit the upcoming communities they are building. I guide my clients through all steps of the new home construction process and aggressively protect their interests in the transaction.
As a holder of top real estate industry certifications and designations like CRS, ABR & GRI, I can offer my clients experience as a Buyer's Agent and REALTOR®, top Industry Customer Service, in-depth, up-to-the-minute and comprehensive market knowledge; honesty, integrity, dedication, and professionalism in my business.
Whether you are a first time buyer in Little Elm looking to buy a home in Little Elm or whether you are relocating to Little Elm from California or moving your entire family from areas like San Francisco, Fremont, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, San Diego in California due to job transfer with your company, I can help you find a new construction home in Little Elm. Our relocation team eases the transition - whether you are moving across town or across the globe. We will work with you to find an area that best suits your professional, family and lifestyle needs. We have all the tools you need to help your home search. Whether it is video previews of homes, extended work hours, digital signatures for documents or more, we can make this process as comfortable as possible no matter where you are located.
What is most important to you in your new construction home in Little Elm? Send us an email at info@NitinGuptaDFW.com or give us a call at (469) 269-6541 to schedule a no obligation consultation. We’ll give you honest advice about Little Elm community that you can use to help make your home buying decision.
