Need Help on Relocation to Texas (Houston, Dallas: attorney, house prices, school district)

[LolaS]

I grew up in Highland Park, Dallas, but have been living in NYC for the past 10 years. I have not been back to Dallas in 10 years. My husband and I both really love NYC, but we're getting tired of the cost of living and relative low quality of life here and are seriously considering moving to Texas. I'm in my late 20s, my husband is in his late 30s. We are not planning on moving for about 5 years.

My husband is a born and bred New Yorker who has not lived anywhere else. He's never been to Texas and I know that it would be a huge culture shock to him. He is very laid back and actually one of the nicest people I've ever known. He does HVAC work. I'm an attorney. I do want to take a trip with him to Dallas to show him around.

Since I have not been to Dallas in 10 years, I'm wondering how its changed since then and if its still a desirable place to live. My husband and I are both city people. I'm also looking into Austin b/c I think its overall liberalism (I use that term loosely) would fit a little better with us. We're both Italian American non-practicing Catholics. We have no children, but I would like to raise them in Texas. I also lived in Boerne, in Fair Oaks Ranch, when I was a small child for 7 years. I really don't remember a whole lot about Boerne except that it was really nice and would love anyone's insight on to how San Antonio is now.

Sorry this is so long, but I am trying to find the best place between Austin, Dallas and San Antonio for us. We love NYC and the excitement of a big city. I have ruled out Houston just because, and I don't mean to offend, I really don't like it that much. We are looking for a wonderful life that is relatively hassle free and a safe place in a good school district to raise future children. But we also want to be in an exciting, interesting area. If anyone could help, I would really appreciate it! Please let me know if y'all need more info.

[loves2read]

there are plenty of reasons to move to TX--and I am sure that you could find a pleasant life in any area you mentioned--but consider Fort Worth--to the west of Dallas--smaller town but many positive features including some quality museums, a fairly vibrant downtown that is very safe with some great restaurants, a slower pace than Dallas but also frankly not a great public transit system...
the suburban areas around FTW have great public schools and reasonable house prices...
the two expense items that most in-commers take issue with are our taxes which to most people see high and the cost of utilities since electric rates are expensive compared to other areas of the country and even some areas of Texas...

[Westerner92]

I'm certainly no expert on these cities, but you will probably notice right away that there are many more people in the cities than there were ten years ago. Plano is no longer the "hot" suburb; Frisco and McKinney are. If I'm not mistaken, the light rail in Dallas has greatly improved also.