Moving to dallas,texas...?

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Mr. Bugsme

The weather is mild in winter. The summer is as hot as Hell (you won't believe it till you experience it). The ritziest area in the Metroplex is Highland Park/University Park. There are good public schools in the Park Cities, Plano and Frisco (and some areas of Richardson). The property taxes are high because there's no state income tax.

I grew up in Jersey and have lived here 20 years. My wife (a native New Yorker) loves it. I don't think I've ever adjusted to it.

trojan_glory

dallas,tx is a large city #7 in USA,the population around 2 millions,there are some good and safe neighborhood in dallas like plano,richardson,frisco,coppel,garland or north dallas.remember do not go to east dallas or south dallas,downtown is safe and beautful coz they builded a lot of new big condominium around downtown dallas,a house with 3 bedroom,2 bathroom and 2 cars garage around $140k to $200k in good neighborhood,i got a house 3 bedroom,2 and half bath,2 cars garage and my home is 2000sqf and i pay every year like $4000 tax,best is weather in winter soemtime you get like 60f or 70f is that great?worse is summer weather and i am live in dallas for a long time i am still get sick of it 90f to 110f,dallas is a nice city and people politely,friendly,and so many restaurant from every where in the world like german,french,italian,chinese,japanese,k... etc etc.one other great thing is we are the city in all of usa got most shopping mall,mall in texas is big and style and new like GALLERIA,NORTH PARK,GRAPEVINES,COLLIN CREEK,VALLEYVIEW,etc etc and also a lot of brand outlet store also,is that great?and believe me the price is cheaper than up there a lot,the cost for living is compare to other states is still the best!so move down here and you will see a lot more greatnest,texas we got everything from living to fun and explore!I hope this will help you some idea about dallas o.k?good luck and welcome to TEXAS!!!!!

A.F.

Dallas is one of the greatest cities in the country. It is a very diverse area with over 6 million people spread of 12 counties. There is no state income tax in Texas, so you will probably end up paying less taxes in Texas than New Jersey. Houses are rather cheap and there are many nice places in the city. If you like suburbs, there is Plano or Richardson. If you like city, Highland Park or Downtown. The city has many attractions and has a great airport. The weather is very warm in the summers. And cool in the winters, around 50 Degrees. There are many good High Schools in the Dallas Area. Newsweek ranked two Dallas Schools as the top 2 in the country, Dallas School for the Talented and Gifted, and Science and Engineering. In the slummier areas there is a lot of crime. There are lots of huge companies based in the Dallas area, like Exxon Mobil, American Airlines, Perot Systems, Texas Instruments and Kimberley Clark. Finding a job is never hard. Dallas is a very famous metropolitan city, and one of the best places in the world.

Behaviorist

You will want to determine where you'll be working and then think about where to live. The north side of Dallas and the northern suburbs are "the" place to go now. Plano, Frisco and Lewisville have good schools and upscale housing options. There can be really long commutes across town depending on where you need to go, and some of the routes are more congested than others. 635 is massive congestion, for example. All the downtown areas, of course, are typically congested.

Dallas has a lot of good restaurants, and a lot of good arts events. Lots of plays, good museums around both cities and suburbs, lots of movie theaters. Lots of childrens' activities.

The weather is warm most of the year. We are in our wet season right now (Spring) but it is wetter than most years this year. Dallas is dry and hot in summer- anywhere from 95 to 105 is normal, but in some years temps peak at 110 to 113, with mild winters, the occassional brief cold period during Jan through early March. Temps rarely dip into the teens, occassionally hit the 20s briefly, and we get down to freezing briefly most years.

Most years we have drought. Rarely we have fires. Tornadoes are fairly common in the surrounding areas but they rarely hit in Dallas. Hail is not uncommon in the spring. (We had a lot this year.)

We have long pleasant spring and fall seasons.

There is little public transportation here, and what there is doesn't go anywhere I need to go, unfortunately. There is a train and there are busses but they don't have comprehensive routes between the various suburbs.

There are a lot of suburbs that are part of the metropolitan area, and of course Ft. Worth is just across a sea of suburbs we call the MidCities.

Dallas is the land of the McMansion... big well-appointed houses with zero-lot lines and tiny back yards, close enough to look in your neighbor's window. They are often in gated communities.

There are parks and recreational facilities in most of the suburbs. Irving Texas has a very good parks department with many rec centers with inexpensive activities, swimming pools, etc.

There are also a lot of older homes in nice areas that may have a little more personality... but it all depends on what you want and what you can afford.

Dallas isn't a bad place to live.

SiliconValleyGirl

I grew up in Dallas (just moved to San Francisco) and still have a house there. Yes, the homes are much cheaper but like another person said, there is no state tax so your property taxes are higher. This of course depends on how much your house is worth and where it is. If you live near downtown/Uptown your taxes will be higher since the property values are higher. Highland Park is the most expensive area with University Park coming in at a close second. I can't even imagine what they pay in property taxes. They have the best schools in the area though, if you can afford to live there.

The suburbs have great schools, especially Plano and Frisco. As far as living in the suburbs vs. living in the city (I've lived in both) there is significantly more traffic in the suburbs since more people live there and there isn't as much culture...lots of cookie cutter shopping centers, etc. There is more diversity and culture near Uptown. Lakewood is close to downtown/Uptown and is sort of like a suburb but close to the city and near White Rock Lake. If you have kids I'd highly recommend looking into that neighborhood. The Lake Highlands neighborhood is also great.

Good things: Very friendly people and very hospitable (I truly miss the Southern hospitality here in California), affordable housing (which makes everything else more affordable), you get more space for your money, pretty decent weather 9 months out of the year (except for summer); lots of different neighborhoods with their own personalities and charm; great restaurants

Not-so-good: Summers can get pretty hot. Some are better than others, but it can take some getting used to if you are from a colder climate. The winters can get down to 30 degrees and you'll have your token snow days a few times every winter but you'll be happy to know you won't have to ever shovel snow out of your driveway. :-) There also isn't much in the way of public transportation. Everything is pretty spread out so you'll need a car. There is the DART but most people drive. Note that if you live in a suburb (especially Frisco) you will be in a lot of traffic, especially on weekends. I loved living in Uptown because I could get anywhere in 5 minutes versus working in Frisco where it would take me forever to get across the street due to all the congestion.

One thing I hear from people who come from other states is that there are no mountains/ocean nearby but I guess the tradeoff is you'll make enough money (and save enough) to go on great vacations more often. If you do move, make sure you take a road trip to Austin, TX. It's a great city with a different vibe and many Dallasites love to visit there.

Welcome (remotely, for me) to Texas!!

luna_lovegood

I have lived in Dallas all my life, so here goes:

1. In Dallas, the Park Cities are considered "good" neighborhoods but have a reputation for being snobby. Preston Hollow is nice. I don't really know what else to say about that.

2. Schools: Highland Park and University Park (in the Park Cities) have good schools, but there have been disputes about Robin Hood laws. Basically some PC people want to keep their schools very, very nice public schools for their children but don't really want to help other schools. Otherwise, I can't tell you much about public schools. The suburbs have better public schools than the city itself.

As for private schools, I know most of them.

----For girls and boys----
-Greenhill (before preschool through 12th, no uniforms)
-ESD (Episcopal School of Dallas) (before preschool through 12th, uniforms, two campuses)--I know quite a lot about this one from experience
-Parish Day Episcopal School (? through 12th, uniforms)
-Good Shepherd Episcopal School (preschool through 8th, uniforms)

---For just girls
-Hockaday (before preschool thorugh 12th, uniforms, very nice campus)
-Ursuline (9th through 12th, uniforms)

---For just boys
-Cistercian (? through 12th I think, uniforms I think)
-St. Mark's (preschool? through 12th, uniforms, Hockaday's sibling school that they have events w/)
-Jesuit (9th through 12th, uniforms, Ursuline's sibling school)

3. Best things:

--Good shopping
--Typical big-city stuff
--Good schools etc.
--Tons of kids stuff (check out Dallas Children's Theater and the Science Place to start)

Can't really think of anything else...embarrassing.

Worst things:
--High crime rate
--Over-consumerism
--Hard to find local foods
--WEATHER

4. Weather in the summer is HOT--just very, very hot. Often humid, unless there's a drought. Droughts are frighteningly common here, then the water tastes bad and the grass dies.

Weather in the winter is weird. It can be at freezing and ice around December-Feb. (we had a freak one this April) but it was 75 degrees and sunny the day after Christmas. Forget snow. Most peoplehere dream of snow days; our idea of snow is 1/4 inch of hard ice. Snowballs, snowmen, etc. are out of the question.

5. That was a long answer. Anyway: Dallas. Welcome. When you come, go up to Reunion Tower so you can look at the city. It's pretty cool.

stevethebeeve

we don't really have a winter here, its just cool and pleasant (occasionally we get an ice storm)
west plano is a safe place to live with good schools...i would suggest not moving where it's disd because their schools are not good....i would definitely suggest north dallas (pisd) to plano

Ali

Dallas is a very busy city. They have a couple of great schools, Hockiday(private) you have to pay about 21,000 a year, but is a great school. They can get huge scholorships. The best neighborhoods. Highland Parks, its very nice something on a budget. Corinth and Denton are great cities, they are about 30-45 minutes from Dallas. Do not live by the Schrimerof Music Center, especially if you have children, it can get very violent.
Winter gets no lower than the 20'sF. It snows. The weather right now, well it's been pretty rainy! Actually, the homes in Dallas can get up to 56,000,000! In some of the really nice neighborhoods.
I live in Corinth. Oakmont is a great neighborhood to live in. There's a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool, gym, and more.

Sahara M

well...... I hate Texas altogether because of the weather. One day it might be sunny and the next day there is a severe thunderstorm and tornado watch. The heat in the summer is unbearable so if you are moving to Dallas, make sure that you have a very good air conditioning system. That is by far the worst part of Dallas. SWIMMING POOLS ARE A MUST!!!!!!!

i live in dallas the weathers just hot but thats good...

Big Dick McGee

In the summertime, Texas is a great place....if you're a baked potato. The city almost completely shuts down if they get a half inch of snow.

G.C.

I moved to Dallas from Kansas City in 2000.

It is a large city with a lot of activities...all kinds of local live theater...and travelling Broadway shows...night clubs, nightlife...museums, a ton of restaurants...a ton of shopping centers...shopping is a major thing in Dallas...also, a few years ago...more plastic surgery was performed here than any city in the country...a lot of people here are pretentious...I have never seen so many "prestige" cars in my life...everywhere...BMW's, Mercedes, etc...many do seem to live above their means...eventhough the cost of living is rather affordable

Where to live in Dallas, depends on what type of lifestyle you are looking for...if you lean toward the more "small town" feel...you probably want to be in the Fort Worth, Arlington area...however, it is kinda redneck...the average home price for a three bedroom/2 bath ranch style home here..runs between 100-180K..it is also quite a distance from Dallas..where the more "urban" feel, lifestyle, bars and restaurants are.

If you are looking for an urban lifestyle...downtown Dallas has an amazing revitalized area in the West village or Knox Henderson areas...a lot of lofts, a lot of planned townhome/condo communities...upscale shopping areas with restaurants, bars etc...all centered in little neighborhood pockets of the city....cost around 300K and up for 3bed/2bath.

Lakewood area has older homes...built in the 30's to 60's...some grand, some not so grand...but, all have a lot of character...and are close to White Rock Lake...which is cool.
Prices range 200-800K depending on size and grandness. Lakewood is close to downtown...but, not a great location for much else...

Plano/Frisco is north suburbs and very "white-bred"..you can get a huge 3000 squre foot home for $150,000.00!...up to a over a million...depending on how far in the suburbs you are willing to move. The schools are excellent...but, it is very suburb and sterile...and far away from culture activities.

If you are wealthy and have blue-blood or "old money"...Highland Park/University Park is the place to be...it is close to downtown and major thoroughfares...the homes were built in the 20's-50's and many are very stately...they range in price from 500K to tens of millions of dollars...Also, Preston Hollow and parts of North Dallas are home to the "elite".

Oak Cliff has affordable neighborhoods with character..built in the 40's and 50's...the homes are cool...however, the projects are nearby, and the crime rate is high...but, the neighborhood is being revitalized.

I live in Addison, TX a "close-in" north suburb of Dallas...I chose it because it has zero-lot line homes with a homes association that maintains the front lawns and "common areas"....we have a 4 mile jogging trail through the neighborhood...a duck pond...and a neighborhood athletic center with indoor and outdoor pools, racquetball/basketball courts, tennis courts, and full service gym...it is about the closest you can be to the urban feel of Dallas, and still be in the newer suburbs..my home was built in 1995 and it is only 10-15 minutes from downtown, 10-15minutes from the airport...20 minutes from White Rock Lake, etc.. The drawback of Addison, is that it is still in the Dallas school district which is not very good...In Dallas schools over 50% of the kids do not graduate highschool..and a large percentage of them do not speak English....most in my neighborhood are young couples, retirees, or people who can afford to send their kids to private school...our homes range from 280K for a 2000 square foot home to several million for larger homes.

If you have kids... check out the school systems...unless you live in the far north suburbs...or in Highland Park...you will probably want to consider private school...Dallas private schools are some of the best in the country..but, are costly.

I love the people in Dallas..because of the tax benefits...many companies have located their headquarters here...so, there are a lot of people transplanted here...everyone seems friendly...and in neighborhoods like mine...it encourages you to get out and walk the dog, and stroll around the pond, etc...so, you actually meet your neighbors. People here love to throw parties...and it seems like every weekend there is somewhere to go. Many people in Dallas have their own pools...even modest homes have pools..and people use them a lot to entertain...

Dallas itself is an ugly city...it is very flat and concrete...because it is a newer city...it does not have many old areas with architectural significance...The beach of sorts...Galveston is a 4+ hour drive...but, it is just the Gulf of Mexico...and is rather disappointing and dirty compared to a beach on the ocean.

Because of my job, the many friends I have made here, and the fact that there is really something to do each and every weekend, if you are looking for something...I will probably stay here a while.

However, someday, I want to move near a beach...or to a city with a rich history and historic districts, etc...that have some charm and character....which Dallas does not have...but, it is a trade off...

One more thing...Texas is a red state...and there are a lot of Bubbas...the further in the suburbs you go...the more Bubbas you meet. However, the city of Dallas is a blue oasis in the midst of the red state. Dallas has a democrat mayor, and the majority of the city council is democrat... If you live in the far out suburbs, it is not uncommon to see pick-ups with a gun rack in the back window...but, likewise if you move downtown or to Addison, or Lakewood or Highland Park..you will be among "metrosexuals", etc...

Hope that helps.

ihearttwirling

As far as Dallas neighborhoods go, my favorites are Grapevine and Mesquite.

Grapevine has the large outlet mall, and it's BEAUTIFUL there! Just driving around it's great looking at everything there! I'm not sure about their elementarys as I have not seen them, but I had a twirling competition at the Grapevine High School and that is now my favorite high school ever! The school was beautiful, large, EXTREMELY clean (there weren't stains on the floor or anything!), it seems like they had a million gyms though, lol. But it's just amazing!

Mesquite on the other hand is great too! They have different schools...my friend goes to North Mesquite High but they have a school called Poteet too...then as far as elementarys there's a small town only minutes away from Mesquite called Sunnyvale where my friend went too and she loved it...so I'd reccomend that. Mesquite has a lot to offer-the Town East Mall is one of my favorite malls in Dallas! They also have a great shopping center nearby which has Marshalls, Justice, and a lot of great stores. I think it's actually called the Town East Center? Anyway, it's great! Then they have many restaraunts and my favorite, Joe's Crab Shack! It's great seafood. I'd reccomend either Grapevine or Mesquite!

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