Dallas vs Austin (Fort Worth, Plano, Richardson: spring break, crime rates, mobile home)

[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

[Guingirl]

I will give you my opinion from a somewhat unqualified poster as I don't live there yet, but have visited many times and have done research for about a year and a half on the area.

First, I considered for me not just Dallas, but the whole Metroplex including Fort Worth and its suburbs.

Austin is definately a very beautiful place. I have found that it is a little more expensive per square foot for the quality that you get down there. Austin is more liberal in nature and is known for its motto "Keep Austin Weird" where DFW is less liberal.

Austin has some high tech manufacturers and has a nickname of the Silicon Prairie, while Dallas is more known for oil/finance area. DFW is home to quite a few headquarters for companies as well.

Research is great and I know I got a lot out of this forum and am very thankful, but its all just words until you visit for yourself. I know that I am really looking forward to moving to the area.

[BJB817]

I agree that visiting is the only way to find out some of these things. We've spent more time in the Austin area than Dallas-only passed though on our drive home. My wife and I like the outdoors and the impression I got of the Dallas area is that while it offers pretty much every urban convenience you could want, there's more outdoorsy things to do in the Austin area.

I definatelly got the liberal vibe in Austin. I'm sure in the suburbs that's not as prevalent, but I'm sure it's still not as conservative as most of Dallas. Being a moderate myself, I like the idea of having views on both sides. Keeps things interesting too.

The main reason we're even considering Dallas over Austin is just the employment situation. Jobs just seem to be more plentiful and higher paying. I get the impression Dallas is kind of like the Twin Cities here. Alot of Minnesotans would rather live somewhere else in the state, especially up north, but they're stuck in the Twin Cities because that's where the high paying job opportunities are. From what I gather, alot of folks from Dallas would like to live someplace like the hill country, but they can't for employment reasons.

I agree this forum's a great resource too. While visiting an area is the best, it's still nice to hear feedback from people who have lived in the area for awhile. Good luck with your move.

Brad

[socketz]

I have the option of living in either place, so I am still researching.

Dallas is definitely more cosmopolitan and feels upscale. I call it the land of pretty people because folks don't walk out to get the paper here unless they are presentable (I enjoy this aspect myself).

However, in Austin.....you'll see people in the market wearing sweat pants, driving down the road with fenders missing on their cars....folks there are no where near the level of Dallas with regards to Socioeconomic comparisons.

You can also crack jokes about homesexuals, strippers, drugs, rednecks, fat people, etc and nobody gets all bent out of shape. It feels much more like CA in that way. Live and let live.

Where it really shines though is topography:

1. Lake Travis = Laguna Beach of Texas. It's a lifestyle. I love the homes along Lake Travis. In Dallas, the Lakes seem to attract mobile homes and such, which seems odd to me.

2. Rolling hills and Oaks that stay green even in the winter. If you don't believe me, drive down the 360 (Zip 78759) and tell me if you thought Texas had areas that looked that nice....hills, trees, water.....it would give Cali a run for the money.

3. Food and culture. Somewhat less sophisticated than Dallas for sure, but if you like kinda funky creative watering holes and food joints, Austin has its share even in the suburbs.

What I don't like....

The place seems insular as hell. It's almost like everyone there has gone to the same colleges (UT or A&M is as common as conversations about the weather) or worked for some company that is an offshot of Dell....it's neat in my industry because your relationships move from company to company and nobody ever seems to leave the area.....but it still seesm odd that there is so little influence from the outside.

Dallas feels far less insular to me.

As far as schools systems go, my buddy gave me the G2 on Austin:

Eanes ISD is the best. Homes in this school district average $600-700K. (Westlake Hills).
Travis ISD is probably second best. (Lakeway/Lake Point/Senna Hills/ Etc.) Homes average $310K.

Anything on 2244 (Bee Caves) is awesome. Lakeway on 620 is great. Jester/Steiner/Riverplace are all good.

RoundRock - Jury is still out on this one. I am sure it is fine for some people, but you loose all the unique Austin atmosphere and the drive can be a *****.

[skrappile]

Hi there. Just joined the Dallas board as I've been concentrating on Austin (we're planning a move from Florida next summer - visit in March during Spring Break).

Great information on this forum!! I'm wondering if anyone knows the best school districts in Dallas suburbs? My kids will be going into 2nd and 4th grade next school year. It would be great if someone could break it down the same way 'socketz' did with on previous post....

Thanks in advance!

[socketz]

Plano ISD is good and for Elementary, gets better as you head West. There are too many Blue Ribbon schools in the Plano ISD to list here. I'd say to get into one of these better schools, you'd need to spend between 200k and up. That's one of the nice things about Plano, there is a decent area for all price ranges.

Richardson ISD has a handful of excellent Elementary Schools as well.

Frisco ISD is also excellent, especially for Elementary because most of them are brand new and were build by the builders of the community and serve the specific community exclusively.

Mckinney ISD is also very good as is Allen and Lovejoy ISDs out east along the 75.

To be honest, I've been very surprised at the quality of the schools anywhere north of Dallas.

If you go to www.greatschools.net, there is a ton of good info on there, especially the parent reviews.

[Guingirl]

Carroll ISD happens to be one of the best in the state. Its in Southlake. I have also found that Keller ISD, Northwest ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD as well fit our criteria for good school districts in the area.

[kimberella]

We moved to Austin about two years ago - after having lived in Dallas suburbs for 5 years. Austin is definitely a MUCH more family oriented area. There are many, many outdoor activities to enjoy...and it's not so big that you have all the crime Dallas has. Last I heard, Dallas was #4 in the nation for high crime rates. There are pockets around Dallas where you'll find family-oriented neighborhoods, however, we were so happy to leave the superficial life-style we experienced in Plano. Austin is way more laid back. It's the one blue speck on the Texas state voting results. It's very liberal. There are more homosexuals per capita in Austin than anywhere else in the country (including San Francisco). Personally, I'm very conservative...and value most republican views very much...and the above stat is true - it doesn't seem to be any more prevalent here than in Dallas. Thought that was worth mentioning...

When we were preparing to move to Austin, there was not ONE person that failed to express deep envy. The more we talked to others around Dallas about our move - the more excited we became about living in Austin. It's beautiful here...there are laws regarding trees in many counties (if you cut one down in order to build - you hvae to plant one within a certain amount of feet)...so it's very, very green.

So, I guess I vote for Austin. However...with so many people moving here - it's quickly becoming crowded (for the locals) and there is a lot of highway construction...

Well...anyway - that's my two cents. Oh, by the way - we live in Cedar Park. Just North of Austin.

[Panam]

Dallas is very closed-minded and conservative. I wouldn't even call it progessive. Nothing to do, boring city in the middle of prarie land. Austin gets my vote!

[tchrmom]

My husband and I live in Austin now, and we will be moving to Dallas this early summer. Unless you work for the state, or have a techy job, there really is nothing here (with a few exceptions...you like waiting tables??) The Dallas job market is awesome. The schools that are actually in Austin ISD are horrible. Absolutely horrible. You will have to shovel out a lot more money to get your kids in a decent school. But there are some beautiful areas here as well. We are moving away because 1) we can get jobs that pay decently, doing what we want to do. 2) affordable homes in great school districts. We'll miss the lakes and rolling hills, but we can always come visit, right? And, Dallas does have lakes. Lots of them.