Dallas, Texas, United States, is the state’s third most populated city. It lies along the Trinity River on the brink of the junction of that river’s three forks, during a region of prairies, tree-lined creeks and rivers, and delicate hills.
John Neely Bryan, a lawyer, and trader from Tennessee built the primary cabin within the area on the riverbank in 1841. A townsite was laid out in 1844 as other settlers moved into the region. The origin of the community’s name remains uncertain; it’s presumably named for early settler Joseph Dallas or for George Mifflin Dallas, vice-chairman (1845–49) of the US.
Swiss and German immigrants extended the city’s early settlement and within the late 1850s by French artisans from the unsuccessful Fourierist utopian colony at nearby La Réunion. And after the American Civil War, Large numbers of African Americans moved into the area.
With the arrival of the railroads in the 1870s, commercial growth was stimulated. As many of the city’s retail stores served the American Southwest, a huge wholesale market developed; among which, Neiman-Marcus has become internationally known. In 1889 and 1903, respectively, the adjacent communities of East Dallas and Oak Cliff were annexed which greatly expanded the city’s size.
Moving to might need some adjustment from your side as some people even experience a little culture shock. But the certain thing is that you’ll be living in one of the biggest cities in the United States!
You must have lots of questions about deciding to move to Dallas. And we’re here to help you find the answers. Listed below are some pros and cons of living in Dallas.
Pros of Living in Dallas
1. Taxes
Along with your job, moving to Dallas will also support your overall lifestyle and savings. Even though the words sound alike, Texas and taxes don’t go together. Texas state as an entire doesn’t pay state tax or municipal tax. You’ll get to keep a touch more from every paycheck once you begin calling Dallas home.
2. School
Education is highly prioritized in the state and Dallas plays by the exact rule. Families moving to Dallas can be confident about the kids getting some of the best education in the USA. Some of the finest Mid-West primary, middle, and high schools can be found in the state. Before you move to Dallas, you can do a search for the best schools.
3. Food
The entire state of Texas is a center of amazing food and Dallas for sure falls on the list. If you’re a foodie, it might be worth paying a visit just for the food culture. For the sake of your time, we won’t be mentioning every restaurant in Dallas, but what we will let you know is Texas tacos are a must-have. Texans can debate without stopping which one is the best as every Dallas neighborhood has its own favorite taco joint.
4. Culture
Being a true melting pot with an amazing cross-section of cultures, Dallas is a home to different traditions including Jewish, Islamic, Hispanic, African-American, Catholic, and Latino. There’s always room for your beliefs, your values, and you in multicultural Dallas.
5. Industrial Hub
It’s not a surprise that Dallas is often considered a manufacturing city as it is a host to well-known businesses. This city is known for being a major center for technology, medical studies, and energy, making it clear that there is an abundance of opportunities waiting for you if you decide to start living here.
Cons of Living in Dallas
1. Expensive Living
Ranking approximately in the center of the cost-to-live index since it isn’t as pricey as New York City or Miami, Dallas is also not completely cheap. The index score is 1083, which is noticeably higher than what is typical for the United States. For example, Atlanta has a cost of living index of 115.4.
Dallas is still one of the most affordable cities in the US even though we found living expenses to be one of the drawbacks of living in Dallas. As more people come to Dallas, housing rates will continue growing, which will only create competition for more pricing rises.
2. Traffic
If you ask any resident of Dallas about what comes first to their mind when questioned about the drawbacks of living there, you’ll probably hear a mention of the traffic. Even having freeways that will take you from point A to point B, traffic still remains rough in Dallas.
The town is extremely popular and a part of the broader Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, leading to DFW residents getting longer commutes than the national average. If you want to save time, make certain to see residential areas near your office or store up for the ride on podcasts.
3. Transportation
Unfortunately, Dallas had a bad rep because of its department of public transportation. There is no efficient public transportation, and the area also isn’t walkable. There is a commuter rail, Dallas Area mass rapid transit (DART) that will take you along the downtown area to many tourist attractions.
Although because the trains run every ten minutes during rush hours and then graduates to a minimum of two trains per hour, it is mainly for commuters. There are also buses to take you almost anywhere, but you’ll have to transfer a few times, which can be time-consuming.
4. Housing
We will touch on this segment under the costs of living, but housing costs certainly are up in Dallas. While it’s not as expensive, it’s also not affordable, which could turn out to be a deal-breaker for some people. That being said, if you begin browsing around renting or purchasing a place, you will certainly find plenty of choices.
5. Very Low Greenery
Dallas, being quite a large town by area, is also a part of the “DFW Metroplex,” as called by native Texans. In comparison with other cities, Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth, and surrounding suburbs cover a great area of land. You won’t come across much green space or countryside for hanging out in the Dallas subway area.
Cost of Living
Having been familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of living in the city of Dallas, you may have made up your mind, and if you’re planning to shift, here are some basic costs of living you should know.
1. Housing
A median one-bedroom in Dallas rents for $912 a month, at present. While an average two-bedroom will cost you $1,133 a month. On the brighter side, this is still only slightly above the national average of $1,192, and compared to many other US metro areas, it is still affordable.
2. Food
According to the estimation of MIT living wage, a single full-time working adult cooking his or her own meals can expect to spend around $3,010 a year on food. However, if you want to have an experience of all the delicious restaurants present in Dallas, then you can plan to spend on average $14.50 for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant. At a mid-range restaurant, a meal for two will cost around $50. Being celebrated for its incredible food, Dallas will have you planning accordingly.
3. Healthcare
The data used from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates an average health expenditure for Dallas residents. The amount for healthcare has been estimated to $2,425 a year for a single full-time working adult and $7,673 a year for a family of three.
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