Moving to Dallas is a wise choice for young professionals who want to skyrocket their careers and get the most out of their paychecks. However, many families love the city as well, as it offers kid-friendly recreational opportunities and an excellent school system. While downtown and uptown are busy with a lively and exciting nightlife, other neighborhoods offer an enjoyable suburban feel.
City Overview
Did you know that Dallas is the 24th most walkable among large cities in the U.S.? The most walkable neighborhoods are Oak Lawn and Henderson, other than the lively downtown. The city also has an established biking culture. If you prefer to live your life on two wheels, Dallas has over 39 miles of bike lanes. The most bike-friendly spots in the big D are Oak Cliff, The Cedars, and Richardson. You can even rent bikes pretty easily around town. Downtown, you’ll find plenty of bike rental companies like Spin, LimeBike, and VBikes. You can rent bikes by the hour or the day, based on your individual needs, to take advantage of the bike trails in the city.
The public transportation system in Dallas is DART, which offers efficient buses and rail services for you to move around the city. With DART’s Station Access Program, you can leave your bike and lock it up at a DART facility. The convenient bike racks feature special lids to reduce vandalism and are free of charge. All you have to do is remember to bring your own lock.
Alternatively, you’re allowed to carry your bike on most buses and trains, for a mostly green and cost-effective commute. Buses have bike storage racks on the front, so you can load and unload your bike easily. Just follow the instructions on the rack itself! Trains feature low-floor cars, so you can bring your bike on board without hassle. In the train cars, you’ll find hooks to keep your bike secure during the travel. DART buses can take you to many entertainment spots and cultural attractions in the area, including the African-American Museum, Freedmen’s Cemetery, and the Lake Cliff Park.
Now that you know how to move around the city, you’re gonna need to learn DFW slang, so you can feel like a real local. This is a city that likes its nicknames, as you’ll soon find out! Probably, you already know that Dallas is known as the “big D,” but it has many other nicknames as well. Locals also call the city “triple D,” likely because of its logo, and “city of hate,” because of President Kennedy’s assassination. Nearby cities have fun nicknames as well. Locals like to call Fort Worth “FunkyTown,” “CowTown,” and “Where the West Begins,” and might be known as Arlington “Aggtown.” The term “Metroplex” indicates the large metropolitan area of Dallas and Fort Worth.
When you hear the term “Large Marge,” people are referring to the beautiful Margaret Hunt Hill bridge. “Central Distressway” is Highway 75 or Central Expressway. Dallas residents probably call it that because of the traffic congestion. “High-five” is the five-tiered point where Highway 635 meets 75, while “Mixmaster” is the point where Interstate 30 and Interstate 35 meet. Not sure why they call it Mixmaster, but it’s certainly another high-traffic area in the city. As for neighborhoods, Deep Ellum has the alternative name of “Central Track,” while Oak Cliff has the cute nicknames of “The Cliff” and “OC”, not be confused with that other “OC”.
Real Estate Overview
Dallas is the 18th most expensive city nationwide for families who want to purchase a home, but real estate prices are still considered competitive in comparison with those in other major cities. The average cost of a house in the city is $349K or $184 per square foot. If you want to save money when moving to Dallas, consider hiring a real estate agent. This may sound counterintuitive, but a professional can negotiate better discounts for you and prevent you from messing with legal issues that may cause you to pay extra fees. Reach out to credit unions, which may offer competitive rates for your mortgage and other discounts.
If you’d prefer to rent, the average rental for an apartment in the big D is $1,250. The average apartment size in the city is 847 square feet, and tenants occupy 42 percent of the houses. Want to save money on your apartment? Keep an eye on the most affordable neighborhoods, like Arbor Bridge, Arbor Springs, Hickory Creek, Garden Heights, and Casa Loma Estates. You’ll save a ton of money, and you’ll still be able to reach downtown easily by car or public transportation.
Dallas Communities
Uptown Dallas
Among the best neighborhoods, there is uptown Dallas. Next to downtown and the Design District, this area has a dynamic community and everything you need, from trendy restaurants to boutiques. In the evening, you’ll see hundreds of locals sipping cocktails at Happiest Hour or Trophy Room or enjoying their favorite craft beer at Black Friar Pub. Uptown residents also like to go dancing in many of the neighborhood’s nightclubs. Definitely, this is the best place to live in DFW if you love nightlife!
Oak Cliff
Oak Cliff is your best bet if you’d prefer a quiet family life. Located southwest of downtown, this neighborhood was once an independent city. The neighborhood offers multiple entertainment options, like the Kessler Theater, the Texas Theater, and the Bishop Art District. You can also bring your kids to Dallas Zoo, the largest in the state of Texas. Among the best schools in the neighborhood are George Bannerman Dealey Montessori and William B. Travis Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted.
Lakewood
If you like to spend time outdoors, consider the Lakewood neighborhood, where you’ll find the beautiful White Rock Lake and plenty of hiking and biking trails. There are many picnic spots to have fun with the family in the summer. This neighborhood also offers the Lakewood Theater, an art deco building where you can see classic movies. Lakewood is considered one of the best spots to live in Dallas, with above-average schools and a nice suburban feel, despite being very close to the metropolitan area. This neighborhood attracts both families and young professionals.
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Things to Do
The DFW area offers many entertainment opportunities for both adults and kids. Families love the Dallas World Aquarium, located in the West End Historic District, which houses endangered animal species. Kids can participate in animal feeding and educational events. Bahama Beach Waterpark is another popular spot for families. It features plenty of fun attractions, and Bahama Bob’s Island Eatery offers delicious food.
In Dallas, you’ll never run out of green areas in which to spend your leisure time. You can choose the Klyde Warren Park, which is 5.2 acres, and hosts several events. Head to the White Rock Lake, a great spot for fishing. Near the lake, there are picnic areas and a 9.33-mile hiking trail.
Among the city’s many cultural attractions is the Dallas Museum of Art, one of the largest museums nationwide, with a collection that includes both masterpieces by contemporary artists and objects from ancient South American civilizations. Dealey Plaza, the location where President Kennedy died, hosts the Sixth Floor Museum, which narrates the life of the President with historical films, photos, and objects. The George W. Bush Presidential Center, located in Southern Methodist University, offers a museum and a library.
If you’re in the mood to party, don’t worry: The “City of Hate” has a vibrant nightlife. Leave your kids with a babysitter and go dancing at It’ll DO Club, on Elm St. This popular venue has a great sound system and cool DJs. If you just want to relax and sip your favorite cocktail, head to Parliament in the uptown area. The decor is elegant and the menu has a wide variety of craft cocktails. Bring your loved one to Texas Theater on Jefferson Blvd to enjoy a good movie.
Reasons to Move to Dallas
Want to get the most out of your paycheck? Moving to Dallas is an excellent idea. The city is the 11th in the U.S. for wages vs. cost of living ratio. The average salary in the big D is $67,500, which equals about $5,625 per month – that’s before taxes of course! Thanks to the booming economy of the city, you won’t have trouble finding good employment opportunities. Dallas has 21 Fortune 500 companies, which is the second-highest number in a city in the U.S. This is the reason why the city attracts many recent graduates and young professionals. Dallas has created over 400,000 jobs since the financial crisis.
If you have kids, you’ll be happy to know that the Dallas and Fort Worth area has excellent school districts, like the Highland Park Independent School District. The University of Dallas has a philosophy based on the Catholic faith, but it welcomes students of any religion. The educational approach focuses on the whole person and helping the students achieve success after graduation.
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