Dallas TX or Raleigh (Durham, Cary: real estate, insurance, chapel)

[hoffmtl2]

Me and my family which is my husband and 2 small boys are looking to relocate to either Dallas, or Raleigh. Can anyone compare them and tell me which is better

[NewUser]

My wife and son and I just moved here from Dallas. I lived there for 22 years (since graduating from college) and my wife lived there her entire life (30-some odd years). Her parents, 2 sisters, and 2 brothers still live there with their families. We did not have to move here because of job transfers etc. We decided to move away because Dallas was just too big, crowded, hot, flat, etc. We researched many areas of the country based on climate, cost-of-living, proximity to outdoor recreation, near international airport, good job prospects, etc. Visited a few, and then decided on Raleigh. So, if you ask me. . . . . .the decision is easy.

[mfrank2109]

Tough to compare - Dallas is huge with all the advantages and disadvantages that a large metro area has, Raleigh is medium sized which has its own advantages and disadvantages. For natural beauty, I think Raleigh and the Triangle have the advantage.

[NewUser]

The only thing that I miss is the restaurants. Both the quantity and the quality. Oh. . . . and the real estate is cheaper in Dallas. NC has a state income tax, and TX does not, but our property taxes and insurance (remember that Dallas is at the bottom edge of "tornado alley") in Dallas were much higher.

[NewUser]

In the summer, I can drive on I40 from RTP to my exit in south Raleigh (Gorman St.) at least 8 miles away and see nothing but trees on either side of the freeway. I40 is the main freeway connecting Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

In Dallas, if you drive on one of the main freeways (183 through Irving, I30 through Arlington, I635 through Dallas, etc) the only thing that you see on the side of the road is shopping malls, big-box retailers, office buildings, etc.

According to this City Data web site, the population of Dallas is 1,200,000 (not sure what year this data is from) and the population of Raleigh is less than 300,000.

The city that I lived in near Dallas (Plano) has a population of about 220,000, and it is only one of a dozen or so cities that surrounds Dallas proper.

[tbone65]

Having lived in Dallas for four years and now living in Cary for the last two, I can tell you that I prefer Cary beyond measure.
Dallas is a very unique place. It is a mid sized city with very little in the way of culture. In my estimation, it offers very little in the way of big city advantages, but almost all of the negatives.
Now, if you love to eat out and shop, then it might be a good spot for you. If you enjoy outdoors, scenery and natural beauty, Dallas is not your place.
Also, you do tend to find quite a bit of the $50k millionaire complex in Dallas.

Originally Posted by mfrank2109

Tough to compare - Dallas is huge with all the advantages and disadvantages that a large metro area has, Raleigh is medium sized which has its own advantages and disadvantages. For natural beauty, I think Raleigh and the Triangle have the advantage.

[NewUser]

Originally Posted by tbone65

Dallas is a very unique place. It is a mid sized city with very little in the way of culture. In my estimation, it offers very little in the way of big city advantages, but almost all of the negatives.

Hmm. I would hesitate to call Dallas a "mid-sized" city. The Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex is probably one of the 20 biggest metropolitan areas in the country.

Dallas does have some culture, but you're right, even Fort Worth had better museums. I heard that the difference could be attributed to where the support money comes from. Much of the Dallas "arts" is funded by corporations. They just throw money at it and don't get actively involved. If times get lean, they just back out and some other organization comes in and picks up the slack in funding. The arts in Fort Worth, on the other hand, are funded by Fort Worth families with "old money". They get in for the long haul and actively participate in decisions.

Originally Posted by tbone65

Now, if you love to eat out and shop, then it might be a good spot for you. If you enjoy outdoors, scenery and natural beauty, Dallas is not your place.

Exactly. Yesterday, as I was responding to this thread, I asked my wife what she missed about Dallas. She said the restaurants too. My wife is not a big shopper (Thank God!), but she also said that Dallas is great for people who like to shop. Dallas has no natural beauty at all. A flat concrete jungle as far as the eye can see.

Originally Posted by tbone65

Also, you do tend to find quite a bit of the $50k millionaire complex in Dallas.

Yes. That's another point that my wife made. She said that Dallas seemed to be so much more about appearances than Raleigh. It may be because we lived in/near Plano, which I would consider Cary on steroids, that made it more noticeable.

[tbone65]

I guess it just feels a bit smaller than a large city because it is so spread out. Really, downtown has got very little going on. The rest of Dallas has a suburbian feel.

As far as the 50k millionaire syndrome, it is alive and well. A nice perk is that you get to see quite a show shopping at the Tom Thumb off the Tollway in Plano.

Originally Posted by NewUser

Hmm. I would hesitate to call Dallas a "mid-sized" city. The Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex is probably one of the 20 biggest metropolitan areas in the country.

Dallas does have some culture, but you're right, even Fort Worth had better museums. I heard that the difference could be attributed to where the support money comes from. Much of the Dallas "arts" is funded by corporations. They just throw money at it and don't get actively involved. If times get lean, they just back out and some other organization comes in and picks up the slack in funding. The arts in Fort Worth, on the other hand, are funded by Fort Worth families with "old money". They get in for the long haul and actively participate in decisions.



Exactly. Yesterday, as I was responding to this thread, I asked my wife what she missed about Dallas. She said the restaurants too. My wife is not a big shopper (Thank God!), but she also said that Dallas is great for people who like to shop. Dallas has no natural beauty at all. A flat concrete jungle as far as the eye can see.



Yes. That's another point that my wife made. She said that Dallas seemed to be so much more about appearances than Raleigh. It may be because we lived in/near Plano, which I would consider Cary on steroids, that made it more noticeable.

[NewUser]

Originally Posted by tbone65

As far as the 50k millionaire syndrome, it is alive and well. A nice perk is that you get to see quite a show shopping at the Tom Thumb off the Tollway in Plano.

I assume that you are referring to the Tom Thumb at Parker and the Tollway? We lived about 3 miles south of Parker on Marsh. I always found it amusing to go into that Home Depot there at Park and the Tollway and see exotic cars in the parking lot. Pretty hard to fit a 4'x8' sheet of plywood in a Ferrari. And they would park next to the cart return . What's up with that?