Dallas or Houston??? (Fort Worth, Pasadena, McKinney: neighborhoods, construction, living) - City-Data Forum

lifesprecious09 · 11-20-2009, 11:03 AM

I would like to relocate to either city, but I'm having a hard time choosing between the two cities, because I am hearing so much good&bad about both cities. I've been doing my research, but would like some feedback about both cities. I currently live in Maryland, and cannot take this high cost of living here, it has became very depressing.

Can I get some feedback these two cities??

justme02 · 11-20-2009, 12:52 PM

I honestly dont think that the difference is that great between the cities. Both are great places to live. Both cities are diverse and have huge immigrant communities from Asia and Central America. You will find great eating, shoping, housing, and nightlifes in both places.

Here are some differences:

1) For better or worse, Dallas has zoning. Houston has no zoning laws.
2) I would describe Houston's culture as more southern. Dallas' (DFW) culture (in my opinion) is more of a cross between Midwest and Southwest. Again thats just my opinion.
3) DFW is a very multi-polar area. Not only do you have two cities that are major cities, in the area you have 1 city over 300,000, and 1 city over 250,000. Then there are also 9 other cities over 100,000. Houston is a uni-polar place. Outside Houston, there is only one other city in the Metro area over 100,000 (Pasadena).

The biggest question I have is what part of town are you thinking of in each place. Are you thinking inside the city or in a suburb?

FalconheadWest · 11-20-2009, 01:17 PM

Houston is VERY humid and has been on the "fattest cities" list a couple of times.

Dallas is less humid and is more materialistic.

As mentioned above, it would depend on where you wanted to live within each metro area.

Dallas native · 11-20-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

Dallas is less humid and is more materialistic.

That's a stereotype that you are perpetuating. It's not as if Houston doesn't have high end retail, ostentatious neighborhoods, expensive foreign cars and plenty of people who desire all of those things.

MrMcCoySays · 11-20-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

Houston is VERY humid and has been on the "fattest cities" list a couple of times.

Dallas is less humid and is more materialistic.

As mentioned above, it would depend on where you wanted to live within each metro area.

Houston has also been a "skinniest cities" list. What's your point?

And come to think of it, what does that have to do with the OP deciding where to live? Are we really that shallow of a nation that we base our choices of relocation on how many overweight people there are?

EmBee · 11-20-2009, 01:52 PM

Another thing to consider is also traffic. In general Houston's seems to be worse than Dallas. Also Dallas seems to be on the more progressive side of roadway planning and development.

FalconheadWest · 11-20-2009, 01:57 PM

I lived in Dallas for 25 years. It's not "just" a stereotype, it's reality. People (women) go to the Byron Nelson golf tournament to find husbands. It's a fact.

The way the "fattest city" is determined is by how many restaurants there are to parks and fitness centers per a certain sqft of space. It's saying there are lots of restaurants with less nature and work out things to do. I've never seen Houston on the skinny list.

Aren't you the shallow one to not understand what the study is based off of.

Lakewooder · 11-20-2009, 02:08 PM

Dallas (DART) has the most extensive light rail system under construction in the nation, to add to its other lines which I believe already cover 45 miles - the size will be more than doubled. Also there is a commuter rail line to Fort Worth (TRE).
It also has the free McKinney Avenue Trolley, which will soon undergo another expansion. A street car system for Downtown Dallas and some of the central neighborhoods is on the drawing board.

I think Houston only has one rail line going from downtown to their medical district.

Dallas native · 11-20-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

I lived in Dallas for 25 years. It's not "just" a stereotype, it's reality. People (women) go to the Byron Nelson golf tournament to find husbands. It's a fact.

LOL. That's your evidence? You can go to any major city in this country and find that sort of thing.

MrMcCoySays · 11-20-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

I lived in Dallas for 25 years. It's not "just" a stereotype, it's reality. People (women) go to the Byron Nelson golf tournament to find husbands. It's a fact.

The way the "fattest city" is determined is by how many restaurants there are to parks and fitness centers per a certain sqft of space. It's saying there are lots of restaurants with less nature and work out things to do. I've never seen Houston on the skinny list.

Aren't you the shallow one to not understand what the study is based off of.

As a matter of fact I do know what the study is based off of. I will admit that I thought you didn't know. There are just so many people around these forums throwing around that fattest cities list without knowing what it actually "measures". I just assumed you were one of those people.

And yes, Houston has been on a skinny list once or twice in the not so distant past. It was either Money magazine or CNN, but with this survey I believe they actually looked at the average BMI of a sample of residents.