Dallas, TX - Thoughts?
Posted by kitties4636@reddit | askdfw | View on Reddit | 56 comments
My boyfriend & I currently live in Miami. I personally love it. The weather is amazing, I have a decent job, I have a few friends, & believe it or not, there is a nice health & wellness oriented community here. My parents also live around 2 hours away.
The issue with Miami & Florida in general though, is that it is insanely expensive. My boyfriend & I don't know if we will ever be able to buy a house down here- Even the houses in dicey neighborhoods are going for closer to $1 million.
My boyfriend used to live in Dallas & he absolutely loved it. It's way cheaper, he has a few friends there, and overall he would be a lot happier there. For context, he moved to Miami to be with me, and he doesn't have much of a community down here... He also despises his job in Miami.
We looked a at a few apartments in Dallas last night, and they are much cheaper than in Miami. We also looked at houses, and they are also way cheaper.
My best friend who also lives in Miami with her boyfriend are also interested in moving to Dallas, as long as we commit to moving.
For those of you who either live in or have visited Dallas, what do you think?
joshypoo55@reddit
My girlfriend and I moved to Dallas from Miami kin January 2020 and we never looked back, not one regret
And a friend of mine who just moved here from Miami made a good point, when she gets out of work she can go run errands and go to the gym and do groceries and still make it before night time, where as Miami that wouldnt be a possibility
kitties4636@reddit (OP)
I live in Brickell so I usually walk everywhere- Where did you live in Miami if you don't mind me asking? For me, traffic isn't really an issue.
Principle_Chance@reddit
Traffic is a real nightmare here in Dallas.
Cedosg@reddit
So what happens if you break up or your best friend breaks up?
Dex_and_Destruction@reddit
Years ago my boyfriend moved to Dallas from a smaller town in Texas and I decided to follow to get out of said small town. And for my boyfriend. The one thing I asked myself before moving was if we broke up, would I be okay living in Dallas. Long story short, we married, divorced, and now I’m in Dallas by myself. It’s been years so not a big deal now but it might have been after we first moved to the area.
bellominionluver@reddit
Do you have any advice in general about moving with a significant other, my boyfriend wants us to move from Dallas to California within the next 3-5 years but idk.
Dex_and_Destruction@reddit
The main thing I would say is ask yourself if you’re okay with being in California on your own if it didn’t work out between the two of you. My family was only two hours away when I moved to Dallas which is nothing compared to California. You have to consider: Would you have family close by? Do you have friends in California already? If you do and you break up, who gets the friend group? Everyone says they won’t take sides but lines are always drawn amongst friends when a couple splits.
Another thing to think about is finances. If one of you makes the majority of the household income, can the other survive without the additional paycheck if you break up? What would that look like? Would you have money to move back if you had to?
I’m not trying to be a Debbie downer. I just learned some hard things along the way. Good luck to you though! 😊
kitties4636@reddit (OP)
Good point!
alongwayfromhome1@reddit
You need to try out dallas for a few weeks before making the big move. Where in Dallas does your boyfriend want to live? I lived in LA for 8 years and West Palm Beach for a year prior to moving to Highland Park in Dallas. It’s been a year and I’m still having a very hard time settling in. All there is to do here is eat and drink.
Wonderful_Horror7315@reddit
And shop. That’s all there ever has been to do: eat, drink, shop. Repeat.
bobbyboblawblaw@reddit
We (DFW) do have two extremely nice zoos - the Ft. Worth Zoo, especially - it's often included in the best U.S. zoo lists, two spectacular symphony orchestras, several exceptional art museums, two renowned professional opera companies, various ballet and other dance companies, the Dallas Arboretum, the Ft. Worth Botanic Garden, White Rock Lake, several professional sports teams, the Holocaust & Human Rights, Sixth Floor and Perot museums, Klyde Warren Park, some extremely popular and highly-competitive annual art festivals that bring in artists from all over, the Fort Worth Stockyards and the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the annual State Fair, Texas Motor Speedway, AT&T Stadium, which is really cool to tour, Globe Life Field, which is indoors, thank God, an an excellent place to see a baseball game, Six Flags, the Medal of Honor museum, and several other things that I can't remember off of the top of my head.
I have lived in DFW for all but 2 1/2 years of my life, when I lived in Austin, and we have more going for us than people think. Definitely more than eating, drinking and shopping, though we have some awesome options when it comes to those activities:)
TeeBrownie@reddit
Don’t forget hiking (not as scenic as California, but still refreshing and a good workout), lake life, a gym or two on every corner, well-maintained public parks, and centrally located so a domestic flight to almost anywhere in the U.S. is no more than four hours. Pools at most apartment complexes in Dallas are also usually well-maintained and pretty relaxing.
bobbyboblawblaw@reddit
I was hoping other Dallasites would chime in!
I also forgot that we have an annual Furry Fiesta that's supposed to be fun if that's your thing. Yes, a Furry Fiesta is exactly the type of gathering you're imagining:) It's not my cup of tea, but no judgement for those that enjoy them:) I've never been, but I see people walking downtown in their costumes sometimes.
We apparently have our own Comic-Con. I've never been, so I have no idea what it's like.
We have a couple of really obscure museums that I can't remember right now, but they sounded interesting when someone brought them up.
The Sixth Floor and Holocaust & Human Rights museums are really interesting, and they are within walking distance of each other downtown.
Weird as it sounds for someone who grew up here, but it never really hit me that a President was assassinated in my hometown until I visited that museum (it happened long before I was born). We used to have to drive all of the out-of-town guests past the Book Depository and Kennedy Memorial across the street, but those weren't as impactful as the museum is.
All of our art museums are excellent. Both the DMA and the Kimball have free admission to their regular exhibits, as does the Amon Carter in Fort Worth. The Kimball and Amon Carter are in the Fort Worth cultural district, which is a really nice area to walk around. Fort Worth isn't nearly as far from Dallas as people would have you believe:)
If you're a book nerd, the DMA hosts Arts & Letters Live, where they bring in authors with buzzy new releases for discussions and book signings.
As an indoor person, I have never been on the Katy Trail, but cyclists, runners and walkers seem to love it. White Rock Lake is a beautiful place for outdoor activities, too.
I will say that Texas beaches are nothing like Florida's. The closest one to DFW is Galveston, and you couldn't pay me to get in that water. Galveston itself is a pretty cool place to walk around, however. Port Aransas and South Padre Island beaches are much nicer, but they are much further away.
TeeBrownie@reddit
The beaches shouldn’t be an issue. I have family and friends all over Florida, but mostly South Florida. None of them can tell me the last time they went to the beach. They also complain about too much sun and heat to enjoy the outdoors. They mostly prefer to do things indoors with lots of a/c, boating, or nighttime activities.
Their top praises of Texas are more highway options so they don’t get stopped at every light trying to get somewhere, and the amount of trees that actually provide shade when outdoors during the day.
bobbyboblawblaw@reddit
We do have quite a few highways that are always under construction:) People drive like lunatics on the highways. Another thing we have quite a few of is tollroads and express lanes with dynamic pricing on many of them. You can try to avoid them, but they are everywhere.
It's imperative that you pay attention to the pricing on the signs. My sister and I almost spent $45 to use the express lanes for a stretch of less than 10 miles. Had we not been on the phone with her husband, we would have.
If you guys own a boat or jet skis, we have several large lakes in the DFW area where you can use them.
TeeBrownie@reddit
The express lane tolls are also common in Florida. Was visiting over the weekend and GPS kept trying to put me in toll lanes.
Yes! Not just DFW area. Texas lakes or even tubing on the river in Austin is are so much fun on weekends.
crestedgeckovivi@reddit
I agree. I wish I lived closer to the ocean/beach...even the rocky kind lol.
Or like some nice mountains or something.
Also y'all forgot CHURCH.
Eat, drink, shop and pray lmao.
(Toss a penny and hit 5 churches. Lmao)
So many churches. (Though in my area they are mostly Baptist lol. And/but a lot of the school and socializing functions for kids are through churches/community etc.
So it's pretty unavoidable even if you are not religious Especially if you plan to have kids etc.
(Like finding a daycare/preschool was hard cause I wanted a non religious one (would prefer my kiddos decide on religious stuff on their own when older etc) but still had to tour them incase I needed a backup etc. )
letsgocry@reddit
We are too crowded. Don’t move here.
ztcsdtx@reddit
There is a married couple with 3 kids that made that exact move. They were able to buy a house in Azle. That's north-ish west of Fort Worth. It's really laid back and there's a lake. They got several acres and a house big enough for their kids on modest incomes. They kind of went 180. It's snail-paced out in these lake towns. Just another option you have in this area, especially if you have remote jobs or can get a hybrid schedule. On the Dallas side, the equivalent is Rockwall. During the summer (May-September), they have a concert series on their lake. If you're into boating, Rockwall is great. So is Lewisville. Lake Lewisville becomes one big party on Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc. Bonus of DFW is 2 of everything! Symphonies, Botanical Gardens, Aquariums, Zoos, and Museum districts.
Springpeen@reddit
You’re going to hate coming from Miami to Dallas.
TexasLiz1@reddit
No Ocean. Florida Crazies are replaced by landlocked Texas Crazies.
BenEDSnDFW2018@reddit
My two cents? Stay in the South Florida area. I’m from Dallas, back here again, but lived in the Miami and Broward County areas. The housing prices you mentioned “housing prices in Dicey Neighborhoods being near $ 1 million? That’s just not accurate. Look at the zip code 33021 (Hollywood), or Aventura, or Plantation.
Those are really nice areas, and condo prices ans SFRs are from $ 225,000 to 700,000.
Miami, Miami Beach, i just did a quick search on Realtor.com, lots of places well under $ 700k.
If you love south florida that much, just get up into Broward County.
_TurboHome@reddit
Dallas is going to feel like a completely different world for your housing budget coming from Miami. What you'd spend on a starter condo in Miami gets you a solid 3bed/2bath in a nice neighborhood here. The key is figuring out which part of the metroplex fits your vibe since DFW is massive.
If you want that city feel similar to Miami, look at Uptown, Knox-Henderson, or Deep Ellum adjacent areas. For more space and value, Irving near Las Colinas or parts of Richardson are solid. Your boyfriend having lived here before is a huge advantage because DFW really is a "you have to know which pockets" kind of market.
Brief-Shirt15@reddit
Is any of the jobs remote? Will you be compromising your job?
curleydallas@reddit
You will hate Dallas
fadedblackleggings@reddit
Yup, almost guaranteed. Houston might...might be bearable.
indo_88@reddit
My fav thing of living in Dallas is having DFW airport. The price is great to go to most destinations with direct flights — and most importantly it is very convenient to “leave” Dallas lol
esalenman@reddit
Places are more expensive because they are more desirable, in general. I live in Dallas near downtown and it is great. I lived decades in the suburbs and was bored out of my mind. I don’t know what you like, but be very careful where you move. There are other nice areas besides the Central city. It just depends what you want.
amalthea5@reddit
I lived in the West Palm Beach area for like 20 years. I moved to Dallas in 2023 to be with my now husband. I want to go back so so so much. And the costs where we live are the same as they are where I came from. So it depends on where in Dallas you want to move. DFW is HUGE so you have a wide range of possible costs of living. Dallas is considered a HCOL area.
arcbeam@reddit
I’ve lived in the Dallas area and suburbs most of my life. I like it but it’s ugly. If nature is important to you it might be a struggle.
SpanishHeat@reddit
I moved from Miami to Dallas. Not worth it.
Stop looking at areas in coral gables for houses and live in Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs. Or if you want to stay in Miami Dade County then West Kendall, Cutler Bay, Homestead.
My townhome was in a nice area, still goes for approximately 500k and the schools were 8/10 or better.
If my job allows me I’ll move back as soon as I can.
kitties4636@reddit (OP)
Can I ask why you aren't loving Dallas?
SpanishHeat@reddit
Like others have said. All you have here to do is eat, drink, and spend money. There’s only thing positive about here is the DFW airport it’s not a congested mess like MIA or FLL but I guess the airport needs to be nice so people can leave this concrete highway jungle.
There’s no beach, no nature walking, no walk ability.
If you want to go to the beach you’re 5 hours away from shitty Galveston with poop like water.
If you want to go to the mountains, it’s 4-5 hour drive to Arkansas.
If you want to leave Texas it’s a minimum 6 hour drive to go anywhere decent. I could drive an hour and a half to Oklahoma but then you’re in Oklahoma.
If you want to get from one side of Dallas to the other it’s a 45 min drive minimum.
The drivers in Miami while they were aggressive they weren’t severely stupid as they are here. They’re aggressive and stupid here. I’d be coming off a merge here in Dallas and instead of moving to another lane they accelerate.
In Miami they’d move a lane and accelerate.
bobbyboblawblaw@reddit
I love the DFW area, but we have the WORST drivers. It's like Mad Max Fury Road on the highways, and people absolutely don't know how to merge.
stewartdesign1@reddit
Lifelong Dallas area resident here, and I am always confused by some of the people on these threads who say we have terrible infrastructure and nothing to do but eat and drink. I haven’t found that to be the case in my decades here. DFW is so enormous, it will be whatever you make of it. We have one of the biggest light rail systems in the country here (93 miles) and take it from someone who gets around via bikes + train regularly, including all the way to Fort Worth CAR FREE (thanks, Silverline and TEXRAIL!), it can be done if you are dedicated. We actually got rid of our second car we never used. Consider living near the rail stops if you don’t want to be on roads or freeways all the time. Our traffic is intense, but at least we have multiple ways to cross the metroplex by car. That is not the case in some cities restricted by geological formations. Our restaurants are amazing, we have great museums and cultural offerings, and lots of sports teams if you are into that. We have a lot of trees, the biggest urban forest in the country with an Audubon center, awesome aquarium, tons of of parks, an excellent cycling community with tons of slow paced social rides or fast rides depending on your preference, and interesting stuff going on every weekend.
bobbyboblawblaw@reddit
There are actually people here who don't have a car and only bike or use public transport, and it's not due to financial constraints. They are able to go everywhere they need to go. I wouldn't want to lug groceries on a train or bus, but people do it.
PomeloPepper@reddit
I'll just throw in here that Dallas has an incredibly diverse food scene. Not as much as Houston, but the link has the current Best Restaurants in Dallas with a lot of American, European and Asian food. There's also a great population of African restaurants that people kind of sleep on.
One of the more memorable anecdotes from a few years ago was a food journalist interviewing a chef about her recipe for Somalian Goat. And she was cagy about it because there were other restaurants who served it too.
NoCoversJustBooks@reddit
Health and wellness in dallas is a lot harder than it is in Miami, I would imagine. Just not as much to entice you outdoors.
bobbyboblawblaw@reddit
We have a ton of true fitness freaks in DFW, and the heat never seems to slow them down. I'm an indoor gal, so I think they're all nuts (runners, cyclists, etc.), but they keep right on doing their fitness thing in the heat of summer:)
GeniusPhilanthropist@reddit
I lived in Miami for years, Midtown and Brickell mostly, so I can give you an honest take.
Dallas wins on the things that actually matter long-term. Cost of living isn't just cheaper, it's a completely different world. You can actually buy a house there. People are genuinely friendly, not performative friendly, just normal human nice. Public schools are way better. Less crime, less random chaos on a Tuesday. You will build wealth faster, that's just the reality.
The wellness community is there too, it just doesn't come with the peacocking. You won't be surrounded by influencers trying to out-healthy each other at every coffee shop.
What you're giving up is real though. Walkability is basically nonexistent, you will live in your car. Miami's food scene, nightlife, and cultural diversity are genuinely hard to replace. And the scenery thing is true, Dallas is flat and there's not much to look at.
Meeting people also takes more effort there. Miami kind of throws you into social situations constantly. Dallas requires you to actually go find your people.
But here's the thing. You're in a relationship, you're thinking about a future, your boyfriend already loves it there, and your best friends are ready to come with you. That's a pretty rare set of circumstances all pointing the same direction. If you ever want to own a home and actually get ahead financially, Dallas is where that happens. Miami is amazing in your 20s. Dallas is where you build something.
SpanishHeat@reddit
Lmao that’s such a bad take. You just drive 40 minutes up to Fort Lauderdale or Pembroke Pines and you get all that Dallas has to offer without having to drive 6 hours to a beach or have things to do that aren’t eat and shop.
I lived in Brickell right off 10th St. And I lived in Pines. I’d give my left nut to move back, worst mistake I did for the guise of “affordability.”
GeniusPhilanthropist@reddit
Thanks for your feedback. I was responding to the question that was asked, which was Dallas Vs Miami, as this was a decision that I also had to make. There are no shortage of mediocre cities to choose from. Unfortunately recommending them won’t help OPs situation. Cheers.
Buehler_DFW@reddit
I think there’s a reason it’s cheaper here. Between the 2 I think Dallas is the lesser of the options. But if affordability is a big factor in your move choice then it may be worth it for your own happiness.
HaidarBoss@reddit
Weather is nice october-may with more variations and it can get way colder than miami. June-september suck. Food scene is very good. Its a very good and comfy place to settle but can get boring. No beaches or mountains nearby is its biggest let down. Stay in uptown/knox area for urban feel but the suburbs will give you more space for cheaper. People will be more friendlier in general. dallas can be elitist, superficial but in a more classy way than miami crowd.
Dawnzarelli@reddit
Yeah you all should plan a trip with your friends for a longer stay. As many days as you can swing. Get a referral for a realtor to tour some homes for sale or rent. Have your bf’s community here recommend places they go. That may not be where you two would like to spend your time, and if you find you don’t love the community his friends exist in, you’ll have to branch out.
The weather can be very hit or miss. The summer is miserable for me. I used to get depressed in the winter when I lived up north, but now in the summer I barely want to do anything due to the heat. Some people aren’t suited for it.
There is a lot of access to different gyms, grocery stores, and I personally think the city is activity-rich but usually revolves around eating and drinking. Typically you have to spend money to socialize. Not really many “free” places to meet people. The museum is free but I wouldn’t say you would create community there just by taking advantage of the free aspects.
South-Play-2866@reddit
I grew up in South Florida, moved to DFW 10 years ago.
If you want any semblance of similarity, Austin would be a better choice.
Ok_Education9679@reddit
I am a native texan, and there is no way I would move here.
KitchenPalentologist@reddit
Native Texan as well.
I wouldn't say "there is no way", but I'd definitely put about 10 other cities in front of Dallas on a list.
Reason's I wouldn't rule Dallas out completely: Jobs (many fortune 500s), cost of living, pro sports, concerts, central US with major airport (can get to other cities quickly/easily).
barley_wine@reddit
Depends on what you want. DFW is a huge sprawling city with many massive suburbs that often have pretty decent schools.
The traffic can be terrible, there’s very little nature and it’s just a massive city in every direction.
It also has lots of jobs, every single musical artist or production is going to stop here, you have every major sports team, etc.
Defiant_Abalone7160@reddit
I lived in the Broward/Dade area for 30 years and then moved to Dallas in the middle of 2019. The second I stepped off the plane I started saving money, I essentially got priced out of living in south Florida.
My findings from my last 6 years being here is I love it much more than I ever did south Florida. It’s a lot more cost effective, I moved into the city so no longer had the need for a car so I save crazy money not owning or maintaining a vehicle.
For me, it was the best move I ever made. I love Dallas, I met my wife here, I have the financial freedom here that I didn’t back home. The slower pace allows for more time to enjoy life and less time being a subscriber to hustle culture.
I say take a visit before making the commitment but it’s definitely an option to explore.
xaeriee@reddit
Do you two plan to get married? If so stay in FL. Do you plan on having children in the future? Dallas schools even the Private ones are awful in comparison to FL. What if the child has autism? Florida has better aid than Texas. I’m speaking from years of experience helping others through the states education, laws and aid. Otherwise if it’s always just going to be you and your boyfriend you’ll be fine and figure it out. Denton isn’t so bad either, depends on your hobbies too.
barley_wine@reddit
On caveat many of the DFW suburbs (especially in the North Dallas area) have good schools but yeah you're going to struggle in Dallas or Fort Worth proper to find them.
elonzucks@reddit
"The weather is amazing,"
That's the main reason for the cost difference....here it's the opposite
HisAbominableness@reddit
Dallas is much less exciting for nightlife than Miami, but there's still fun to be had here.
The job market here is probably better than most other areas. I work in accounting and was only between jobs a few months here (even in this turbulent job market). Just make sure y'all land in an area where your job commutes aren't a grind.
Dallas appears to be a fairly health-conscious city if you seek that out. Lot's of great restaurants, both healthy and unhealthy.
I can't speak much on housing, but it appears to be cheaper than most major cities, but has gone up quite a bit in the last 5 years. There are some dangerous areas here, but that can be true of anywhere.
If you have friends here already, it helps soften the blow of being new. However, It seems hard to make lasting friend connections here beyond superficial drinking buddies. When I quit drinking, my friend groups vanished.
I'd say go for it if you have the money for a move. You can always visit a beach.
MrsGarciaTx@reddit
I’ve lived in every big city in Texas. I’m a Houston girl at heart. My husband recently accepted a job 40 mins from downtown Dallas and I absolutely looooove the city! It was the best decision for us and my small business I’m a polymer clay artist partime and work remotely! I attend business events and enjoy the state fair. Love going on coffee tours and hiking. Got my first Mercedes Benz this past Christmas ! It’s so much fun here and I like living on the outskirts
lFallenOn3l@reddit
The question is will you enjoy living in Dallas. A lot slower paced. I suggest you visit if you haven't already