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The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area (known as the Metroplex, which is short for the far less flashy-sounding Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area) is a vibrant region of Texas that is truly on the move. The population is just over 5 million today, and it's projected to grow to more than 6 million by 2010 (and nearly 10 million by 2030!). All that growth means that there is a wealth of opportunities available, from jobs to entertainment to apartments for rent.

Quality of Life
Residents of the Dallas/Fort Worth area enjoy a moderate climate with hot summers and not-too-cold winters. Average summer temperatures are in the 80s, while winters average 45 degrees. The city of Dallas is the second largest in Texas with about 1.2 million residents. Dallas prides itself as being a cultural and educational center of both Texas and the United States. Institutions of higher learning include Southern Methodist University, Paul Quinn College, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas Christian College, Dallas Theological Seminary and the University of Texas at Dallas.

Also of special note are the architecture of the downtown area and the West End Historic District, a collection of 19th-century warehouses converted into eclectic shops and restaurants. Dallas is famous for its pro sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys pro football team, the Mavericks pro basketball team, Stars pro hockey team and Rangers baseball team. Fort Worth, known as the city "Where the West Begins," has half a million residents and consistently ranks high on lists of the best places in the United States to live.

Where the Jobs Are
In recent decades, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has become a leader in high-tech industries, earning the nickname "Silicon Prairie" thanks to its preponderance of computer and related technology industries. Other major employers include the finance, insurance, publishing and tourism industries. The Dallas-Fort Worth airport, one of the busiest in the nation, is another major employer for the region.

Cost of Living & Apartment Prices
If you can find a good job in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you'll have more money to spend than you would in many other major cities in the country; the overall cost of living is a very comfortable 17% below the national average. The median price for apartments for rent is $650 in Dallas and $600 in Fort Worth. In the Metroplex as a whole, you can expect to pay an overall average of $750 for apartment rentals and about $100 for monthly utilities. Prices break down to an average of $450 per month for studio apartments, $625 for one-bedroom apartments, $775 for split-level loft apartments, $900 for two-bedroom apartments and up to $2,500 for luxury apartment rentals.

Neighborhoods to Explore
The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has a large variety of areas to explore when looking for apartments for rent. Counties in the area to explore are Collin County, Dallas County, Denton County, Ellis County, Johnson County, Kaufman County, Parker County, Rockwall County, Tarrant County, and Wise County. Major cities in the region include Arlington, Irving, Lewisville and Plano.