Vacationing for potential move! Where should we visit? (Dallas, Fort Worth: to rent, schools)

[V8JON85]

My family and I are coming on vacation this coming week to scope things out for a potential move to the area. We were wondering if there is anywhere we should visit? IE: Interesting places? We will be looking at different suburbs of Dallas as we will be looking to rent nearby, Well within 30-40 mins drive atleast. Any safe middle class areas you can recommend? We will be looking into Carrollton, Garland, Plano, & Denton. Anywhere else fit the criteria? Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thank You in advance!!!

[ChristieP]

Where will your work be located?

Aside from Denton, those are all pretty typical Dallas suburbs...

[TurtleCreek80]

Denton is not a suburb; it's a town well north of DFW and would not be commutable to jobs in Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving/ Las Colinas. Would be difficult to when work in north Plano in the Legacy corridor.

Your office location will really dictate where you can look for housing, but in general figure 2-3 minutes per mile in rush hour traffic. That means your 30-40 minute window is in the 10-20 mile range. Don't look any further north than Plano, east than Rockwall, west than Irving / Coppell, or south than DeSoto.

Affordable, middle class suburbs that are well-maintained and generally safe in that radius include Richardson, Plano south of about Parker for commute reasons, Carrollton, Garland (the northern parts near Firewheel are nicer than the southern parts near I-30), Rockwall (borderline max commute time), Cedar Hill, Irving (parts near Valley Ranch, not 183, are nicer and zoned to better schools), Coppell, Lewisville (borderline max commute time).

[V8JON85]

Thanks for the info! I could sure use it.