Whether your interests include attending festivals, enjoying the nightlife, exploring hiking trails, boating or trying out trendy restaurants, there are plenty of reasons you should consider moving to Dallas.
And, we’re here to help you find the best place to hang your hat. Here’s all you need to know before taking this exciting plunge.
Dallas overview
The Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex (aka “DFW”) comprises 13 counties and is home to 7.5 million people. As the largest inland metropolitan area in the U.S., Dallas is a uniquely diverse city, offering the best of both worlds: urban and rural. Here’s how the city breaks down by the numbers.
- Population: 1,343,573
- Population density (people per square mile): 3,518
- Median income: $52,210
- Studio average rent: $1,367
- One-bedroom average rent: $1,545
- Two-bedroom average rent: $2,171
- Cost of living index: 108.5
Popular neighborhoods in Dallas
Dallas has some awesome neighborhoods with unique charms. Some of the most vibrant and busy communities are near downtown Dallas, but there are fun places to live all around the city. We’re listing out 5 of the most popular neighborhoods in Dallas so that you can find the right area for you.
- Uptown: Slightly north of downtown is the young and lively neighborhood of Uptown. A beautifully paved exercise path, called Katy Trail, runs right through this neighborhood, so you’ll see many people jogging, riding bikes, exercising with their dogs and inline skating. It’s very walkable with coffee shops, retail stores, boutiques and salons lining the well-manicured streets.
- Deep Ellum: Deep Ellum is a very hip neighborhood. It’s a stone’s throw away from downtown with an electric vibe. Here you’ll find colorful murals throughout the streets along with tattoo shops, vintage clothing stores, breweries and speakeasy bars.
- Lower Greenville: Lower Greenville is an older, established neighborhood in Dallas, which recently has become a hotspot due to the revitalization of the street and new one-of-a-kind restaurants and bars. It’s also a favorite among families.
- Lakewood: Bordering White Rock Lake in East Dallas is the artsy area of Lakewood. You’ll find many surrounding green spaces, parks, restaurants and cute cafes to try in this neighborhood. It’s a tight-knit community and very family-friendly with an excellent school district.
- Bishop Arts District: Bishop Arts is a slice of Dallas’s hottest real estate. There are quaint and quiet residential areas tucked in this neighborhood bordering the main, very walkable strip of boutique shops, restaurants, bars and dessert hot spots. The vibe here is relaxed, with live music playing pretty much every weekend.
The pros of moving to Dallas
You’ll quickly fall in love with Dallas. Aside from having down-to-earth and all-around nice people, it’s a fast-growing city with ample opportunities. Dallas could also be considered the heart of Texas because of its central location. And, here are some things we “heart” about Dallas.
A central location
Living in such a central city like Dallas makes it easy to take day trips by car to explore the state. Austin, the state capital, is only a 3-hour-drive away. Dallas is also home to the second-largest airport in the U.S., so catching flights is easy peasy.
The southern charm is real
People in Dallas are generally very friendly, warm and welcoming. It’s not uncommon for strangers to open doors for you, say hi while passing, make eye contact and smile. Patience is also a characteristic of Dallasites, even in traffic.
Job opportunities
Dallas has a hot job market, and the opportunities to flourish here are endless. Many corporations have made Dallas their home base, including Toyota, State Farm, 7-Eleven and Southwest Airlines. Dallas is also a buzzing city for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Many local markets pop up monthly, and there’s a huge movement to support small businesses.
The cons of moving to Dallas
There are a few downsides to living in Dallas, but they’re manageable for the most part. Residents can usually see past the cons since the pros outweigh them. That being said, here are just a few gripes worth sharing.
Summers are hot and humid
Texas summers are sweltering and humid. You’ll have to brace yourself to be slapped in the face with the heat for a few months. Simply accept the fact that during the summer months, you’ll step outside and immediately sweat.
Traffic can be a bummer
Traffic during rush hour peaks can really be a buzzkill. While Dallas has great highways and toll roads, drivers spent 63 hours in congested traffic in 2019, according to INRIX. You can avoid the crush by mapping out your route before taking off to determine the road with the least amount of stopped cars.
The cost of living is above the national average
While it’s not off-the-charts expensive to live in Dallas, it’s not cheap either. Living in Dallas is slightly above the national average when you factor in costs like groceries, utilities, housing, transportation and health care. That can deter some who want to move here.
How to get started on your move to Dallas
Are you ready to pack your bags and move to Dallas yet? Wherever you land, there are good things in store for you in this big, beautiful city.
Check out our Moving Center to help you begin the process. There, you can get free quotes and find more information about planning your move to Dallas.
To help find a place to move to, check out your options for renting an apartment or buying a home in Dallas.
