torn over where to live and play while attending grad school in Denton (Dallas: apartment, renters)

[Missybu]

I'll be moving from Los Angeles to attend TWU in Denton for grad school in the Fall. Although I'm excited to get out of L.A and can appreciate a more mellow small town charm I'm concerned I will feel like a fish out of water in Denton and wish I was living closer to the action, I'm 25 and single. I take my studies seriously and that would be the primary factor other than cost why I would reside near the school.

I've been accustomed to urban living and have a love-hate relationship with the hollywood-esque pretentious crowd but do enjoy a classy social scene, upscale dining/cafes, museums, theatre/arts, jogging/biking trails, farmer's markets, and seek a friendly atmosphere to mix and mingle with other young professionals in mid-20's-30's.

My budget is working against me and is in the $500-700/mo rent range so living with roommates is a given. I've heard horror stories about the commute from Dallas to Denton and back but hear the bus line is a viable option? Is TWU-Denton mostly a commuter school? where do the students who don't like Denton choose to live?

Any thoughts on Addison vs. uptown Dallas vs. Las Colinas in relation to going to school in Denton? My threshold for traffic is high being that I'm a Los Angeles native but I would like to avoid an unbearable commute.

[Lol_Stacey]

I went to school in Denton (at the other U there- UNT) 12 years ago. Denton is an awesome town. It is totally a college town, so the perfect place to focus your energy on your studies. I would not be interested in the commute from Dallas to Denton, and most students at the Universities there, live in Denton (so not a commuter school). If you want night life, Dallas and Fort Worth are 45 minutes down the road. If I were you I would stick to finding a decent place in Denton and then go to the big city when needed. I was happy to live in a college town, with the college night life scene. It exists, although it's not quite as hip or expensive (as Dallas').

[FarNorthDallas]

I would suggest just staying in Denton and go into Dallas/Ft Worth on the weekends.

[I used to go to grad school at TWU and work in Dallas and the commuting back and forth was horrible.]

[4eversearching]

Yeah, I'm moving too but, from what I've heard, I'd think staying in Denton is the best option. I think you'd have access to all of those fun things in Denton and commuting from Dallas is like 45 minutes, isn't it? You could do the fun things up there too, yet are close enough to Dallas if you really need to go there for some reason, but you wouldn't be forced to every day.

[jabbit]

just what have you heard about denton? im curious because i want to know what shaped your ideas or assumptions about the place especially from and urban-city LA'er

[theloneranger]

Denton has enough to do for a college kid--Fry Street in Denton is a miniature version of Austin's 6th Street. The crowd is more undergrad, but that's where occasional trips Uptown or to Addison will do you well. You don't want to drive 45 min+ daily to go to school just to live in a yuppie singles scene--especially on a student's salary it will be hard to keep up with the Joneses in Uptown. I would vote for staying in Denton and asking an apartment locator service to help you find an area with more grad students/upperclassmen.

[loves2read]

my son and dil both took grad degrees from UNT and lived there -- lots of the grad students are full-time and living on either their work-study teaching jobs or have other jobs in area--some are married to people who work in maybe Dallas or FTW and commute to work there...
there is bus line that picks up in Dallas and takes to Denton but think it is not that flexible if you want to stay later for working in library or hanging out

Denton to me is a really grungy looking town--it has lately (past 3-4 yrs) been on real growth spurt and part of the downtown area that the students loved was torn down for new construction and the streets are really a mishmash of new construction, older overcrowded ones...
but it does have trees and rent in some areas is still pretty affordable but there is not a lot of new, upscale out there...
ther is usually always something to do--music, poetry, but not what I would consider upscale, yuppie--Denton is more alt/grunge if you know what I mean (and this is from a parent's perspective as well)...just going by what we have seen eating out and going to some school functions

most of the renters come from the university students or entry level employees--there are couple of larger companies that headquarter there--Sally's beauty products is one--but the schools are big employers...some new shopping in the area and chain restaurants but still lots of independent stores--like second hand book shops and local restaurants...(hit or miss there)...there is pretty good medical care though

frankly think if you ARE serious about your grades then you won't have that much time to spend looking for after school fun--so why drive 40 min plus back and forth each day in some bad traffic just to spend more money to live in upscale area...sounds pounds foolish to me

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Missybu

I'll be moving from Los Angeles to attend TWU in Denton for grad school in the Fall. Although I'm excited to get out of L.A and can appreciate a more mellow small town charm I'm concerned I will feel like a fish out of water in Denton and wish I was living closer to the action, I'm 25 and single. I take my studies seriously and that would be the primary factor other than cost why I would reside near the school.

I've been accustomed to urban living and have a love-hate relationship with the hollywood-esque pretentious crowd but do enjoy a classy social scene, upscale dining/cafes, museums, theatre/arts, jogging/biking trails, farmer's markets, and seek a friendly atmosphere to mix and mingle with other young professionals in mid-20's-30's.

My budget is working against me and is in the $500-700/mo rent range so living with roommates is a given. I've heard horror stories about the commute from Dallas to Denton and back but hear the bus line is a viable option? Is TWU-Denton mostly a commuter school? where do the students who don't like Denton choose to live?

Any thoughts on Addison vs. uptown Dallas vs. Las Colinas in relation to going to school in Denton? My threshold for traffic is high being that I'm a Los Angeles native but I would like to avoid an unbearable commute.

If you really don't mind a commute yes, Addison would be a good bet, but better yet, why not look in Denton? It is a college town so certainly there are lots of mid 20s activities going on. I don't think Uptown Dallas or Las Colinas will work, that would be a really awful commute, Addison would be bad enough. the positive thing, you will be going against the traffic.

Nita

[jabbit]

ive said it here numerous times on here they call Denton "the folksy berkley" or "austin 20 years ago".

but it really has its own thing going on. Denton has something unique about it... unique enough to where paste magazine called it the best music scene in the country in 2008 and new york times did an article on this scene (as well as pitchfork and MTV doing a video segment on it).

Its not just like any other town or city. To believe that is to be fooled. Denton will creep up on you. It has on me. Im amazed by it... still after 3yrs here.

[TXCountryBoy]

I am not sure why so many people look down on Denton. Denton has so much money and the people that live there are very nice. I work in the area a lot.