Is Dallas Texas a Good Place to Live? - Destination Scanner...

Dallas is a large, booming city in Texas. Moving to Dallas as an expat can turn out to be worthwhile because the residents are very friendly and the housing prices are cheaper when compared to other major cities like New York and San Francisco. As the ninth-largest city in the US, Dallas also enjoys a fast-growing job market and offers plenty of things to do in the outdoors.

Is Dallas a good place to live? Although traffic congestion is a common occurrence in Dallas, public transport means are readily available. There are a lot of excellent schools, good neighborhoods, and the weather makes spending time outside a fun pastime.

Are you wondering whether moving to Dallas is right for you? Without a doubt, choosing which city to live in is not always a simple task. To help you know what life is like in Dallas, this article explores everything you should know about this area before you move.

What is the state of Dallas’ economy?
Are public transportation services reliable?
What do the residents do for fun?

In this article you will find out:

Is Dallas a good place to Live? Prons & Cons.

There are many cool places to reside in and around Dallas. Top neighborhoods in this city include: Colleyville (hotspot for retirees and families), Grapevine (low taxes and solid school system), Trophy Club (excellent schools and golf haven), M Streets (green with lavish homes dating back to the 1920s) and Uptown (excellent amenities and cool urban lifestyle).

Since Dallas is a major urban area; crime can be a problem to a certain degree. According to NeighborhoodScout.com, the overall crime rate per 1,000 residents is 40.13 in Dallas, which is higher than the Texas and national rates.

When it comes to education in this city, there are many excellent schools in the area. Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet, Uplift Education-North Hills Prep, School for the Talented and Gifted, and Harry Stone Montessori Academy are some of the top-rated Dallas schools.

Degree programs are offered at Dallas Baptist University, Paul Quinn College, the University of North Texas at Dallas, Richland College and other colleges/universities.

Public transportation services are provided by several companies including Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, which allows commuters to successfully navigate the city through 72 miles of light rail and over 100 bus routes. The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) links the downtown area of Dallas with Fort Worth’s downtown.

DART also offers a free service called D-Link to take commuters downtown or to the Oak Cliff area, the service is offered on Monday to Saturday starting from 11 a.m to 11.30p.m. In addition to that, McKinney Avenue Transit Authority also operates free vintage trolleys through the popular Uptown neighborhood.

Social life in Dallas is also lively due to favorable weather. Entertainment venues, parks, shops, patio bars, restaurants, cafes and clubs are well-distributed throughout the city.

Is Dallas a good place to Work?

Dallas has been constantly named as the biggest economic hub of the twelve-county Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area. The main industries in Dallas’ economy are technology, defense, financial services, life sciences, telecommunications and transportation.

The largest employers are Southwest Airlines Co, Texas Instruments Inc. AT&T Inc., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, American Airlines, Lockheed Martin Corp, the Dallas Independent School District, and J.P Morgan Chase & Co.

Since Dallas is a major employment center, job opportunities are in plenty. As of May 31st, 2019, Dallas had an unemployment rate of 2.9 percent, which was a significant drop from 4.1 percent on January 31st, 2019. Salaries are not bad either because the average salary in Dallas, TX is $60,252.

Is Dallas a good place to buy a House?

The median home price in Dallas is $364,003 according to Payscle.com. In general, the home values have been increasing significantly over the past few years and the trend is expected to continue. The price of a one-bedroom home in the area is roughly $127,000, a three-bedroom house can sell for about $250,000 and a five-bedroom property can go for a price of around $550,000.

Want to rent? The median rent is $1,140 per month in this city. The rent on a single-bedroom Dallas apartment is about $1,055.77 a month, a three-bed house can rent for $1,779.44 monthly and a five-bed home can have a rent of $3,995 per month.

As a highly populated city, Dallas is home to numerous banks, mortgage lenders, savings institutions and credit unions. With a credit score of at least 620, homebuyers can apply for a mortgage. The interest rate for a mortgage plan lasting 20 years is 4.19 percent per annum.

In terms of insurance, homeowners in Dallas pay approximately $880-$1,193 per year in home insurance costs.

Is Dallas a good place to Retire?

Any expat would choose Dallas as their place of retirement because of the comfortable climate, affordable cost of living and lower taxes. Moreover, the area also has ample employment opportunities for retirees who want to start a second career. Healthcare is also top-notch because there are top doctors who have all the skills and tools to manage different health conditions.

In addition to those reasons, Dallas also makes for a good retirement spot because retirement homes in the area are readily available. The cost of living in an assisted living facility for seniors ranges from around $825 to $4,950 per month.

Good examples of retirement homes in the area are Grace Presbyterian Village, Emeritus at Vickery Towers, Highland Springs, Cathedral Gardens –Senior Living, Friendship Towers, Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation and Churchill Estates.

Is Dallas a good place to visit?

With a long history in ranching, farming and production of oil, Dallas city grew rapidly as a trade hub after the railroad was introduced in 1873. After the Second World War, numerous insurance corporations and banks started to pop up in the city, which made it an important center for business and finance. With such a rich history, Dallas has a lot to offer when it comes to tourist attractions.

Visitors come from different parts of the world to view the wide range of architecture, including modern and postmodern structures such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Gothic revival Kirk Building, and Victorian Neoclassical houses on Swiss Avenue.

There are several impressive museums in Dallas like the Dallas Museum of Art, Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Frontiers of Flight Museum, Cavanaugh Flight Museum, and African American Museum, as well as highly-rated attractions such as Dallas World Aquarium and the Reunion Tower.

The city also offers many things to do outside, including taking a trip to the scenic Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden sitting on the Shore of White Rock Lake and viewing the incredible Cattle Drive sculptures at Pioneer Plaza.

Young children and animal enthusiasts find great delight at the Dallas Zoo. The 106-acre park houses over 2,000 exotic animals from over 400 different species. Dallas Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country because it was started in 1888. It makes for a fun family attraction.

The Bishop Arts District in Dallas is yet another popular site that offers countless opportunities for entertainment, shopping and dining. It has over 60 independently run businesses including chic boutiques, restaurants, cozy cafes, and art galleries. There also specialty shops dedicated to the male clientele, several vintage clothing boutiques for women, and a myriad of stores that sell items created by local artists.

For visitors who plan on staying in Dallas for several days or weeks, Downtown Dallas is where most first-time travelers opt to find accommodation. The hip Uptown District is also another good location for a short-term stay. Downtown Dallas and Uptown District are convenient because they are within easy reach of the major tourist attraction sites.

Some of the best luxury hotels in the area include Omni Dallas Hotel, Adolphus Hotel and Hotel ZaZa. There’s also a nice selection of mid-range hotels such as The Homewood Suites by Hilton, Magnolia Hotel, and Hotel Indigo. Budget options are also available like La Quinta Inn Dallas, Days Inn Market Center and Candlewood Suits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Dallas, Texas?

The cost of living in Dallas is 1.9 percent higher than the nationwide average (as of July 2019). Utility costs and housing expenses are also above the national average by 4 percent and 5 percent respectively. Groceries, however, are cheaper by 5 percent. Energy bills are $17.87 a month, phone bills are $186.40 monthly and gas costs are $2.59 per gallon. The price of a loaf of bread is $3.16, a gallon of milk costs $1.84, and a hamburger sells for $4.02.

Is Dallas a good place to invest in property?

For a long time, the housing market for Dallas has consistently ranked as among the top ten best markets in the US to invest in. Owning a rental property in this area will surely reap high returns. Dallas’ real estate market success is a result of the increase in population, low cost of doing business, labor force growth, and new constructions.

Is Dallas a good place to raise a family?

Raising a family in Dallas, TX is well worth considering because the area offers plenty of good schools, family-friendly neighborhoods, parks and endless opportunities for outdoor activities. Additionally, the quality of life is good and residents have easy access to excellent medical care.