Why to Move to Dallas
With decades of rich history, skyrocketing rates of job growth and desirable neighborhoods, it is no wonder thousands of people are moving to Dallas, TX with estimates of over 200 people moving to Dallas every day. Here’s what you need to know before moving there.
Moving to Dallas - A guide to the best neighborhoods
Dallas-Fort Worth has gained more new residents than any metropolitan area in the country, adding more than 1 million people in an eight-year period. With vibrant, diverse communities, affordable housing and a booming economy, it’s no wonder thousands of people are moving to Dallas from all over the country.It’s easy to fall in love with the city’s award-winning restaurants, decades of rich history and unpredictable but nice sunny weather—but it’s even easier to plant roots in the DFW. The city boasts some of the best businesses, highest rates of job growth and most desirable neighborhoods for families.
As you consider all of your options, we put together everything you need to know about moving to Dallas, TX. And you might be surprised at some of our findings.
What You Need to Know About Living in Dallas
Before we get to our Dallas neighborhood guide, here are some must-know details about living in the DFW:
How many people live in Dallas, Texas?
Dallas’s population is nearing 1.3 million people, making it the 9th largest city in the United States and the 3rd largest in Texas. According to researchers, it’s not slowing down anytime soon. The city is expected to see some major population growth over the next two decades.
What is the economy like in Dallas?
With a 4.9% unemployment rate and a projected 1.5 million jobs to be added by 2040, Dallas is one of the most popular destinations for job seekers. Many of these people are young professionals settling down into their careers.
Dallas boasts a very reasonable cost of living, particularly in comparison to other major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. Homes can be found on fairly large lots and the cost of building isn’t as high. Renting is also a popular housing choice for residents, with apartment rentals averaging $1,550 per month. The affordable housing cost coupled with the promising career growth has people flocking to the metro area by the thousands.
Dallas is also home to multiple Fortune 500 companies. 24 Fortune 500 company headquarters based in Texas can be found in metro Dallas, including American Airlines and Texas Instruments. In fact, DFW is home to more Fortune 10 company headquarters than any other region in the world, including Exxon Mobil, AT&T, and McKesson. Each year, Millennials flock to Dallas to join its major industries: technology, energy, finance, aerospace and more. The film industry in particular is responsible for over 90,000 jobs in the state.
Is Dallas safe?
Despite its reputation as a dangerous place to live—it often turns up in the national top 10 cities with the highest crime rate— Dallas has a wide variety of safe neighborhoods. Dallas’s public safety improvement efforts have made getting around a breeze.
The number of total year-over-year crimes in Dallas is also on the decline. Other large metro areas such as Memphis, Oakland and Detroit all have significantly higher crime rates.
What is the weather like in Dallas?
Spring (Mar–May) and fall (Sep–Oct) are warm. Summer (Jun–Aug) is hot. Winter (Nov–Feb) is cool to cold.. The humidity, especially during the rainy summer, can be overwhelming to first timers and visitors, but locals know to take advantage of public pools and air conditioning. Winters are usually mild, but snow appears every few years.
What celebrities live in Dallas?
Celebrities that live in Texas come in many forms. Some famous people from Texas are actors and other Texas celebrities are musicians. A few of the most famous people in Texas are filmmakers, athletes, and pop stars. Many of the famous people who live in Texas reside in Dallas, Houston, or Austin. One of the famous actors from Texas is Matthew McConaughey. Randy White, Troy Aikman, and other current and former Dallas Cowboys also live in the DFW area. Selena Gomez is from Grand Prairie and visits her family occasionally. Stephen Tobolowsky lives in Dallas. Jeff Dunham has a home in Dallas and spends time going between it and his home in Vegas. Jason Lee lives in Denton.
Best Places To Live In Dallas
Dallas can be simplified into a conglomeration of suburbs—each one with its own charm, vibe and neighbors. Young and single professional? Raising a family? Looking to settle down? No matter your reason for relocating to Dallas, this city has the perfect niche for everyone. Here are the best areas to live in Dallas:
The only question left is which Dallas neighborhood is right for you. Here are some important factors to consider:
DISTANCE TO WORK
Obviously, the fastest commute to work in downtown Dallas is to live in downtown Dallas itself. Central metro prices and atmosphere aren't for everyone though, so here are some other areas with great commuting options in the greater Dallas area.
Residents advise avoiding traffic along the north/south I-75 corridor if possible, and when in doubt to travel down and try a test run at rush hour. For easier commutes, check the DART train system serving the communities of downtown Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Farmers Branch and a few other.
SCHOOL SYSTEMS
Driving distance isn't the only consideration when searching for a home. For those with children young or old, quality education is important. Here are some of the best school districts in the Dallas metro area.
Highland Park Independent School District - Located in University Park & Highland Park just north of Dallas.
Frisco School District - With a philosophy of smaller schools, Frisco ISD provides great schools in suburban Frisco
Carroll Independent School District - Southlake is an upscale town west of downtown Dallas, known for sprawling estates and luxury homes
Coppell Independent School District - Coppell is an affluent community close to DFW airport and with access to multiple freeways.
AMENITIES
Amenities can be the difference between a real neighborhood, and just a few streets you live on. Is there any community involvement? What about a grocery store or pharmacy? You'll also want to know if you can walk to things, or if you'll have to drive downtown for any entertainment. Are there parks for kids and walking trails to enjoy outdoors?
Checking the neighborhood Chamber of Commerce or city travel pages is a great way to find specific area amenities, but here's a great overview of the favorite neighborhoods in Dallas.
Uptown - Immediately north of Downtown Dallas, this neighborhood is a great place for anyone looking for an urban environment and is full of townhouses, mid-rise apartments, and a few luxury high-rise condos and apartments
Lakewood - Located next to White Rock Lake this iconic neighborhood is just moments from downtown. It is known for its laid back luxury and impressive homes both old and new.
Preston Hollow - Full of trees, creeks, and hollows just six miles north of downtown Dallas, Preston Hollow continues to glisten with glamorous charm and a tasteful mix of modern and traditional houses.
University Park: Pristine yards, quiet streets, and gorgeous homes are just a couple of the reasons that people flock to this town-within-a-city with exemplary schools and a location close to downtown Dallas.
Some of these wealthiest neighborhoods close to downtown that the DFW area has to offer are preferred by homebuyers like physicians and professionals who work in downtown Dallas with access to major hospitals like Baylor University Medical Center and UT Southwestern. These communities provide an easy commute to Dallas downtown but lack good public schools. The residents have access to a number of top private schools in DFW area.
CRIME RATES
The crime rate across Dallas varies with the suburb. University Park, Southlake, Frisco & Westlake are known for upscale housing and low crime rates. Other areas are also safe havens in North Texas such as these top rated areas:
Bishop Arts District.
Lake Highlands.
In an area growing as fast as Dallas, it's likely that many areas will change as people are rapidly moving and buying up less expensive properties. That said, there are areas with reputations for a higher crime that may warrant some caution. Denser, more urban areas that have consistently reported high crime rates for the area include the following.
Northwest Dallas.
South Dallas.
South Boulevard-Park Row.
Cedar Crest.
Eagle Ford.
Wolf Creek.
Southeast Dallas.
Urbandale-Parkdale.
Of course, the best neighborhood for you may be different from any of these areas listed. With nearly 40 suburbs in the Dallas area, you are sure to find a neighborhood to match your “must-haves” list and narrow down your top choices. Once you have an idea of the Dallas neighborhoods that interest you, it's best to call in a professional. Professional Top Dallas Realtors like Nitin Gupta, CRS, GRI, REALTOR who can steer you in the right direction. Whether you're looking for the perfect craftsman or a McMansion, these professionals know the area and listing. If you want to learn more about the different Dallas neighborhoods, check out our Dallas Neighborhood Guide!
Contact us for an in-depth analysis of your needs and recommendations along with market reports of various neighborhoods!
About us:
If you are interested in moving to our great city of Dallas and need help finding a home, I would appreciate the opportunity to help you. I have lived in Dallas metro area for over 16 years. Since many of my clients are relocation buyers, I 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, I can make this process as comfortable as possible no matter where you are located.
