Houston vs. Dallas (Richardson: 2013, construction, taxes)

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Dallas is more metropolitan and seemed more cosmopolitan as a place. It's people, however, seemed more regional in their viewpoints, attitudes and aspirations. In other words, it wasn't very different to me from East Texas, where I grew up--the mood of the people felt like an extension of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Houston was the opposite. It seemed to have more of a regional identity tied to the Gulf Coast in terms of its urban makeup and sense of itself as a city, with people from all over the world, who brought their influences and sense of urban life. In other words, Dallas felt like a small town in a big-city suit and Houston felt like a big city with a small-town attitude. I preferred Houston.
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I think there is a huge difference based on where you are in the Dallas and DFW areas as to peoples view points. Part of what drives a difference based on peoples view points can be based on the economy and since Houston's economy is much more internationally tied, people can get a sense that what happens on a different side of the globe effects them more. The Dallas areas economy is more domestically tied but also with large economic ties to specific countries (India, the UK, and Korea being the big three).

However, when we take the economies out of the picture, the Dallas areas residential make up is very similar to Houston's (albeit slightly smaller) when it comes the international make up of its residents. The big difference is that all thats international about the residential makeup of Dallas isnt in Dallas. Several suburbs of Dallas (especially Plano, Garland, and Irving) have a much larger international reach than Dallas itself especially when it comes to non-Hispanic immigrants. Below are some numbers to prove my point:

Here are the foreign born Indian residents by Texas city:

Houston: 23,503
Plano: 21,917
Irving: 18,889
Austin: 15,279
Sugar Land: 11,906
Richardson: 7,138
San Antonio: 7,112
Dallas: 5,978
Frisco: 5,018

Here are the foreign born Vietnamese by Texas city:

Houston: 34,383
Arlington: 17,094
Garland: 10,373
Austin: 8,923
Dallas: 6,310
Fort Worth: 6,087
Carrollton: 5,997
San Antonio: 5,131

I have had time to gather numbers among other Asians nor Subsaharan Africans, but the trend is the same. Outside of Hispanics from Central American and Mexico, Dallas (and Fort Worth for that matter) fall way short of their suburbs in terms of the non-Mexican/Central American international make up of residents. I do lots of work with companies in India and South Asia and they are sending residents to the Dallas area by the truck load. However, the city of Dallas isnt on their radar, however Plano and Irving certainly are.

The first two years after moving from LA, I lived in the city of Dallas and the last two Ive lived in Plano. I can say quiet comfortably that Plano feels alot more international than Dallas does especially when talking about the residential makeup. Also, people in Plano seem to have the same world views as youre describing from Houston whereas, I agree, Dallas didnt seem to.

[stoneclaw]

Dallas does give off an aura/persona of being sharper and better kept. It also feels a little more pedestrian overall mainly thanks to the Uptown area. It was a smart move to blend the Uptown/Downtown area together as to now people really can't tell the difference. It feels like all one unified area now.

[Dallaz]

Here's some interesting Travel Videos about both cities. Do you think they showcased enough about Houston and Dallas?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt7lpqdbNgA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9jWxwpXMPM

[7ry1an3]

Pretty general but still good vids

[Dallaz]

Originally Posted by 7ry1an3

Pretty general but still good vids

Yeah, but I thought they could have said a little more about Houston and Dallas.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by Dallaz

Yeah, but I thought they could have said a little more about Houston and Dallas.

One thing that was interesting to me, is that they included Galveston as if it was Houston, in the Houston video, but Fort Worth wasn't even, or was barely mentioned, I should say, in the Dallas video, as far as I can tell. Did you notice that, or is it just me?

Maybe Fort Worth has their own vid...

[Dallaz]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

One thing that was interesting to me, is that they included Galveston as if it was Houston, in the Houston video, but Fort Worth wasn't even, or was barely mentioned, I should say, in the Dallas video, as far as I can tell. Did you notice that, or is it just me?

Maybe Fort Worth has their own vid...

I noticed it too. They didn't make a Fort Worth video yet.

[Dallaz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSMxBpF055o

[dallasboi]

An interesting read.....Dallas area

[RonnieinDallas]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

An interesting read.....Dallas area

After reading this I don't know if I'm glass half empty or half full. I'm not a fan of the "value" office projects, because most of those end up in our lame suburbs. However, I am excited about State Farm, even though it's in Richardson. Why? Because it's on a DART line, and proves to the nay-Sayers that rail does bring in development. Plus, I think it's in Dallas county, and people can still move to the cool neighborhoods in Dallas, and catch the train to work. It will also boost up parts of northeast Dallas that need redevelopment. Interesting article, but I'm still holding out for something to actually excite me.