Living in Dallas (Plano, Addison, Roma: house, theatre, school district)

[Robzherenow]

A lot of my friends have made the move from NY to Dallas. We are considering this too because the cost of living is lower than NY. Anyone moved to Dallas from another state have any experiences to share?

[osjo73]

I moved from northern california. Honestly, it is very difficult to adapt. There is nothing that can compare to living on either coast. There is not a lot of cultural activities like you would find in New York or California. And the diversity is not very apparent. People from Dallas boast about the number of restaraunts here, something about the most restaraunts per capita in the nation...or something. I admit I have not gone out to eat a lot, what I have seen is not impressive. Again, I am comparing dallas to San Francisco...can't imagine any city having better restaraunts than San Francisco. One other thing, Dallas is not very pretty....I never reallyl noticed the beauty of the bay area until I moved to Dallas. Parks for hiking, riding bikes, and roller-blading are less than desirable...although The area south of Dallas, cedar hill, is very pretty around the cedar hill state park...

But, it is very cheap to live out here. You can live in a nice house and still have money to visit New York and San Francisco. And according to a friend from New Jersey, the weather is great. (Me being from the bay area, I do not agree with that statement, but I can see her point).

The night life is not as culturally lively as New York and the bay area. And you will not find any festivals that will live up to your expectations after being in New York. This is my main complaint. For such a diverse city, there really is no real diversity....

My advice is, if you move here, know what you are getting into and do not compare with New York. Just know that you cannot compare living on the coasts with living in Dallas. Move here purely for the cost of living. Enjoy your friends and family, become a cowboys fan, a mavericks fan, a college football fan (i'm told I am crazy for not attending the Cotton Bowl and parties that ensue afterward :-). Go to the Fortworth's art and wine festival and the Taste of Addison and be happy that at least there are some festivals. And most of all, enjoy your extra money to travel (fly from DFW or love-field) often to visit those places that are little more inviting than Dallas.

Also, one thing I have never had to deal with...when people come visit me, I am used to having a boat load of sight seeing to do. I wont depress myself with the details about the vast amount of sightseeing in the bay area....I think you all know! But when my uncle came to town for the first time, I drove through downtown dallas - *so here's the american airlines center*, oh, and the West End...oh, and that was where Kennedy was assasinated, oh, and this is deep ellum...used to be a great jazz/blues spot back in the day.... Then I took him to downtown FortWorth and we ate some ice-cream....Quite uneventful! I tell family and friends now that if they come visit me we are going to do what the people here do...go to church, go eat, and go to the boat! After all, while in Rome, do as the Romans do.

The people here are very nice, though. Californians get a bad rap for being mean....we're not mean, we just dont talk to people we don't know. I hear New Yorker's are rude. I imagine, they get a bad rap as well. Well, people out here are a lot warmer. It has taken me a minute to get used to it. Maam and sir...guys opening the door and waiting before they enter the elevator....Men actually go to church out here...Wow!

Anyway, I babbled on enough. That's my experience. I am getting better at enjoying my time here. I just remember that I used to live in the bay area and one day I will go back...and now I have a little more discretionary income to enjoy :-

[killer2021]

"We are considering this too because the cost of living is lower than NY."

Yup that is about all the benefit you get lol.

[socketz]

"The people here are very nice, though. Californians get a bad rap for being mean....we're not mean, we just dont talk to people we don't know."

I see that as well. Californians have more of a "keep to yourself, people need their space" mentality. Not better or worse, just different. One thing I notice here is that people are quick to lay on the horn. In CA, you rarely ever blow the horn, and if you do, your about 25 seconds from a road rage incident. Here, the horn is treated like a driving 'tool'.

[Robzherenow]

So would Dallas be a good place to raise a family since every is very friendly there? Whats the deal with no state tax? Do you notice a big difference in your paychecks?

[Robzherenow]

In addition, how is the cost of gas over there? I just got my car filled up. In NY its back up to $$2.70 for 87 unleaded. Is it any better there?

[GoPadge]

I shopped around over the weekend and got $2.34 in Plano. Some places had prices as high as $2.49.

[Spree]

It's in the 2.70's in FL it takes about $50 to fill up my van. My oldest is feeling the pain as well, as a new driver it's up to him to find his own gas money.

[osjo73]

On one hand dallas is a good place to raise kids. the subs have a good school district record. Not too much trouble to get into....on the other hand, the mentality here is very materialistic. Like I said before, there is not a lot to do but shop. And since it is relatively cheap to live here, kids' parents tend to have these big mcmansions and expensive cars...It could be difficult to teach kids about the finer things in life leaving here. Personally, I would prefer some place a little more cultural and open to different things....oops, I think they call that liberal...or nowadays progressive loons...oh, I forget ;-)

[irvinggirl]

Dallas is really no different than any other big city. There is PLENTY to do there too!!! museums,cultural art exhibits,theatre,european film festivals,concerts. Maybe before moving to Dallas one should be educated?