Dallas is an Amazing City!
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4/22/2018
Reading the previous reviews of Dallas, TX made me laugh and made me want to write my own review.
I am from California, specifically Los Angeles, and I made the move to Dallas two years ago. This was one of the best decisions of my life, and I thought my perspective may give a more balanced perspective as to what life is like here in Dallas.
A lot of Dallasites complain about the traffic. This is honestly laughable as I have come from California where real traffic problems exist. Traffic slows down to 35 miles per hour on the freeway for a mile or so, and you'd think the world was ending for them. I would like to see these folks sit through 5pm commute traffic on the 10 in LA, and maybe it would seem the traffic here is not bad at all, for a city.
Having lived in California for the majority of my life, I worried that Dallas would not have the city amenities I have been used to finding. I can honestly say- that with the exception of the beach - there is every amenity in Los Angeles here, to some degree.
The cost of living is very low, with the exception of the property taxes, but one should take into consideration that the cost of the home is significantly less, so the property tax percentage is almost irrelevant. I lived in a townhouse on the westside of LA, with no yard, and neighbors that literally touching on either side. We sold the townhouse, moved to the nicest neighborhood here in Dallas (park cities), purchased a home on almost a half acre, and still have money in our pocket.
In Los Angeles we shopped at Whole Foods. Here we shop at Whole Foods and our grocery bill was cut by over 1/3, buying the exact same items. Gas is less, travel is less expensive, the overall cost of living is just less here. Jobs are abundant, and the competition is not as fierce as other major cities, specifically if you are in certain industries, or are educated. I worked with a recruiter prior to my relocation, and both my husband and I had multiple job offers to pick from. I don't know how accurate this still is, but we were told two years ago that less than half of the workforce in Dallas does not have a college education, thus making it easier for us to find work.
For those that complain Dallas is not a walkable city are, quite frankly, wrong. While people here are very dependent on vehicles, Turtle Creek, Oaklawn, Uptown, Downtown, the West End, and Deep Ellum are extremely walkable. My husband and I walk in these neighborhoods every week.
The same can be said about the entertainment, or lack thereof in some people's opinions. Dallas has a symphony, theaters, live music 7 nights per week, dancing halls, bars, restaurants, etc. Are they on par with the entertainment you'd find in Manhattan? Probably not; but there is still a lot to do. Additionally, Dallas has two airports and travel costs are moderately low, in comparison to other major cities. Whenever I find myself in need of a break, I can hop on a plane, take a vacation, and come home refreshed.
Dallas is extremely kid friendly, with lots of green space and parks. Dallas has a substantial amount of waterways, making safe boating, kayaking, and watersports possible.
The weather is another big complaint. Yes, it's hot in the summer. Hot and humid. October - May is very moderate, and nice. Dare I say, in comparison with Los Angeles, Dallas actually has real seasons. In addition to the heat in the summertime, unlike a lot of other major cities (I'm looking at you San Francisco and NYC), everywhere in Dallas is air conditioned. For the two to three months per year it's really hot, just hang inside during the peak hours.
I personally believe that a place is what you make of it. I see the problems with an influx of transplants to Dallas, specifically for locals who are getting priced out of their own community. This aside, I think Dallas is a wonderful place to live, work, and play. I would recommend relocation to anyone interested in moving here.
SmithJ | Dallas, TX