Those who moved from NYC, how does Dallas compare?

Posted by Asbodo@reddit | askdfw | View on Reddit | 30 comments

Hey all, really considering a move from NYC due to high prices and lack of space among other things, so looking for somewhere to switch to and start life fresh in (I've been in NY my whole life). I'd be renting so don't want to get overwhelmed with choosing the #1 best state/city etc, but have heard really nice things about Dallas from multiple people. Just because of that, I'm considering potentially going there and seeing how I like it for a little bit.

Particularly, I am interested in the muslim communities, and in having more space and parking for vehicles while getting around (I drive cars and motorcycles), and so less stress in life perhaps, as well as lower taxes and housing costs overall. I am an energy engineer for work but I can get by for a little while through my savings and am sure I would be able to find work eventually, and that's if I don't just go for a switch and start with freelancing/business ventures.

With all this said, I think there's a lot of potential here as NYC is just getting worse, and I would like a life with more space and slower pace. Any city recommendations I should look at particularly, and any experiences to share from others who came from NY? Would really be interested to hear the differences, and excited for a switch to wherever that may be.

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xoxo_angelica@reddit

Uptown has the most NYC-adjacent vibe, a lot of New Yorkers live around there and seem to enjoy it!!

Walkable (by Dallas standards), lots of places to dine and drink (emphasis on drink, Dallas has a major drinking culture lol), nice parks (like Cole Park on McKinney), and the best walking trail in DFW (Katy Trail) runs adjacent to the area. There are also lots of different social groups, clubs, and activities that have their home base in the neighborhood as well, so if you’re proactive you won’t have much trouble meeting people - and you’ll find that the vast majority of people are very open and quick to warm up to compared to much of the northeast :-)

West Village is kinda the hub of that particular part of town and feels very metropolitan but in the more relaxed, friendly, and roomier way that’s distinct to Southern cities. Tons of high rise lofts/apts, and some little neighborhoods of modest but nice houses and lots more duplexes and condos to both buy and rent. Though it’s definitely more of a renter market. You might find a drawback to be a bit of a lack in diversity compared to some other parts of Dallas proper, but it’s definitely gotten a lot better in recent years in that regard.

I also recommend looking into the Bishop Arts neighborhood as a comparable option that is a little more down to earth, diverse, and vibrant in my humble opinion, especially in terms of destinations for food and the arts. It skews more local community oriented and doesn’t have as much of the professional/commercial thing going on as Uptown does which some find slightly sterile.

I would start there if you’re looking for something with more prevalent remnants of home! Good luck ☺️

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username-generica@reddit

Katy Trail isn’t all that. There are plenty of better walking trails in DFW.

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Ferrari_McFly@reddit

For an urban trail experience, it very well is all that lol. Nothing else in DFW comes close to the energy and vibrancy of it in this category.

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username-generica@reddit

What others outside of Dallas have you tried?

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xoxo_angelica@reddit

obviously “best” is subjective, I don’t even disagree with you, but it’s definitely the most renowned/well-regarded/award-winning etc overall, which is more what I meant 👍

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username-generica@reddit

It’s most well known because it’s in Dallas so it gets the most attention. The Trinity Trail network has 100+ miles of walking and biking trails with shops, restaurants, parks, apartments and homes, a farmer’s market, etc. along the trails.

TheBoyardeeBandit@reddit

First off, Dallas is absolutely not cheap. Texas has this reputation for low cost of living, and it's absolutely not the case anymore.

Second, I think it would be a massive mistake to move ANYWHERE based on the automation that "I would be able to find work eventually" in the current economy. I'd say there's never really a good time for that gamble, but this is very likely one of the worst times to roll those dice.

Third, Texas doesn't exactly have a reputation for being super welcoming of different cultures and ethnicities. Take a look at what is happening in Plano and the surrounding areas right now as an example.

Fourth, it's hot as shit. Indescribably hot during the summers, which last at least 50% of the year. As a double whammy, there's nothing outdoors that makes the heat worth tolerating - no mountains, no beaches, and the lakes and rivers are nasty.

Fifth, and specific to you, the energy field in Texas is a political disaster. It's screwed up in just about every possible way, which only lends itself to instability.

thetokyofiles@reddit

What’s happening in Plano right now? Are you referring to Frisco?

floridali@reddit

EPIC and Abbott’s shenanigans

Ok, if this is a reference to EPIC, I guess. But the opposition to EPIC is coming from Paxton, et al, not from Plano.

Maybe? I have just seen a decent bit kind of all over the north of Dallas area. I thought it was more localized to Plano, by maybe I'm mistaken and it's more Frisco. Regardless, I'm referring to that area in general

stargazerrr3@reddit

What about austin ot san antonio, you think those are better destinations?

Couldn't say, as I don't have any knowledge of either area. That being said, I think at least a few of my first points are going to apply state wide.

Thank you. Im not American, I lived in the US through scholarships. Was thinking of being in TX for a month. Though I recon summer can be tough there.

Where did you live? Something people from other countries often fail to grasp is just how insanely diverse the climate is across the US, because it spans such a large range of climate zones.

Living in Texas for a month would be a good experience. Living in Texas permanently is a very different discussion.

I could have August to be there. I visited dallas once in early August and weather was tough. I lived in Europe and in Argentina.

August is definitely rough. The other thing to consider with August is that utility rates will be higher, and you'll be using more electricity to maintain the same temperature inside.

Anon474678@reddit

Dallas is extremely cheap compared to nyc. Rent is 3400+ for a 1bd/studio, 4000+ if you want one renovated. Lets not mention the state+city tax along with general elevated cost of living. Trust me it will break your heart. If u make 70-80k in dallas you would need at least 120k in nyc to sustain a similar lifestyle

Sure, everything is cheap compared to the single most, or second most, expensive place in the country.

But for someone looking for a cheap place to live, Dallas isn't cheap. Doubly so when OP is looking to find a job here instead of keeping a NYC-paying job and working remote.

Exactly it’s extremely cheap from OPs perspective. Only thing that matters here

It's not though. It's cheap with NYC engineer wages. Which is exactly what OP is looking to give up by finding a job in Dallas.

Salaries don’t fluctuate as much as you think. Avg difference for the same role in nyc vs dallas is around 20k

I mean that's such a wildly broad generalization that it's not even worth trying to dispute.

SassySavcy@reddit

I’m from NYC (had to move because of job reasons) and I would move back to NYC in a second if I could.

I haven’t personally met anyone from NY that wasn’t planning on moving out of Dallas when they could. Most wanted to go back to the city but a few wanted to try a different state.

dallassoxfan@reddit

Richardson has a sizable Muslim community with grocery stores, mosques, and more.

Richardson, Plano, Allen have the highest Muslim population from what I have seen.

stewdiouss@reddit

Short answer, it doesn’t! Miss ny, but I totally get it about the city being too expensive. I would, however, visit the dfw area a couple times before committing. A few things. Walkability is near nonexistent, unless you don’t mind driving to specific places to do the walking and/or live in a certain neighborhood or another. There are a few places that are nice to walk in and around like white rock lake and the arboretum. Public transportation is not very extensive but it’s here.. ish. That being said, having a vehicle is very much recommended. You will likely miss the quality food options from different cultures. You will likely miss the amount of things to do, however it’s not nonexistent here, you just have to search harder to find it unless you only care to brunch and drink. I will say the fitness forward culture here is pretty cool. People like to say nyc is a concrete jungle, but no. Legit, Dallas is the concrete jungle. A sprawling concrete jungle full of highways, freeways and pavement and not a sufficient amount of tree cover. :( as such, it’s scorching hot. Always uncomfortably hot. Otherwise, you will find the space you’re looking for, and comparably cheaper rent, which is nice. And I believe parts of Richardson has a sizable Muslim community. (: