Austin vs Dallas (Houston, San Antonio, Round Rock: appointed, home, neighborhoods)

[BJB817]

While my wife and I are mainly interested in the Austin area, we're curious about Dallas too. So far, these are some of the things I've gathered:

-People seem to be leaving Dallas for Austin

-More plentiful and higher paying job opportunities in Dallas

-More scenery/outdoor recreation opportunies in Austin

-Austin is more laid back/friendly

-housing costs about the same, at least in the 'burbs

If this is correct or totally off base, please let me know!

Brad

[Dazed]

I just moved to Austin from Dallas. I'd say that you weren't too far off base with any of your assessment.

The biggest advantage that Dallas has over Austin is that they seem to have a better handle on the traffic issues. You can get all over Dallas with minimal ease. In Austin the traffic is never ending.

In Dallas, you have to worry about keeping up with the Jones', where I haven't had that feeling since moving to Austin.

The housing prices are about the same, but I think Austin is getting more expensive than Dallas due to all the people coming in from California driving up the prices.

I really like the casualness of how people dress in Austin, so even though housing is high, I'm spending less money on clothes!

[momof2dfw]

The other major difference is the major sports that are in Dallas that are not in Austin. Austin has UT for their sports venues and that is it, well, the minor league baseball in Round Rock that Nolan Ryan started.

In Dallas you have these major sports teams:
NFL Football - Dallas Cowboys
NBA Basketball - Mavericks
NHL Hockwy - Stars (can not move here if a red wings fan, we have more than enough of those here )
MLB Baseball - Rangers (who???? )
MLS Soccer - FC Dallas

Then there are the minors:
Arena Football - Despardos
Baseball - Frisco Roughriders
Hockey - Texas Tornado

If your into pro sports Austin is severly lacking in that arena.

[jread]

I can't imagine why anyone would pick a city based on whether or not they have pro-sports teams. That has no real influence on your day to day life.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by jread

I can't imagine why anyone would pick a city based on whether or not they have pro-sports teams. That has no real influence on your day to day life.

If it is one of your interests it can play a part. I love ice hockey and have season tickets and love rooting for my hometeam. It's one of those personal things that make each of us different. If one personally likes going to NBA basketball games and rooting for the home team then they might be disappointed living in a place that does not have such. The question was Austin vs. Dallas and I simply pointed out this one difference. No more, no less.

[Rnelson]

Then there are the minors:
Arena Football - Despardos
Baseball - Frisco Roughriders
Hockey - Texas Tornado

If your into pro sports Austin is severly lacking in that arena.

UT sports? 86k people at ever home game cant be wrong..

[BJB817]

While I'm a fan of major league sports, it's not a determining factor in where I'd want to live. I live about an hour away from downtown Minneapolis and haven't been to a Twins game for 2 years, a T-wolves game for longer than that and 1 Vikes game in my life. If I needed a "live" pro sports fix, the drive to San Antonio, Houston or Dallas doesn't seem that ridiculous as often as I go. Besides, the only time I'd go is if one of the above mentioned teams were in town so I could cheer them on. Notice I didn't mention hockey. I know I don't belong in MN when I'm not a hockey nut!

Not to totally get off on a tangent, but since we're on the subject, which pro sports teams to most Austinites root for? I imagine the Spurs in the NBA, but I suppose it's a toss up between the Dallas and Houston franchises for the other stuff.

Back to the main topic, I guess the Austin traffic doesn't scare me too bad. It doesn't seem any worse than any other large city to me and the new, ever so popular toll roads should help.

I definately don't want to live in a place where keeping up with the Jones' is a must or expect to be shunned. Since my wife and I wouldn't be able to afford any of the good neighborhoods in central Austin, we're relegated to the suburbs. I'm just hoping that materialistic attitude isn't as prevalent there either. I live in a relatively small, blue collar town here that lacks alot of conveniences, at least people here are "real" overall.

Brad

[gigi927]

Just a note on the traffic here...I have lived in downtown areas of Chicago and San Francisco and in the suburbs of Phoenix and I have to say that the natives here are right....the traffic here is REALLY bad for the size of this town. Luckily I get to avoid rush hours most days as we work from home, but if we didn't, location of our home in relation to work would have been a HUGE consideration.

[AustinGuy]

From my looking, I would say Dallas housing prices are cheaper in general. Especially now since Austin seems to have had a much bigger runup these past two years.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by Rnelson

UT sports? 86k people at ever home game cant be wrong..

As far as going to a football game, I'd go to a Longhorn game anyday . A Cowboys game, you'd have to drag me. I gave up on the NFL a long time ago. Even turned down the opportunity two years ago to have a suite for the season. But a Longhorn game, bring it on baby. Not only the chance to be at the game and all of the excitement (college football games are much more exciting for the spectators) but the chance to see MM.

Your from MN and you don't like hockey . Or could it be that when the Northstars left and came to Dallas and there was not a pro team left to support..... Thanks for giving us the Stars though. Love my Stars. And yes, I'm a Dallas native, in fact there are lots of us that really get into this whole hockey thing. And women to boot.