Dallas FortWorth Metro VS Boston metro (living, state, better, compare)

[offmove]

Hello everyone.. I need some HELP as soon as possible. I have been reading these forums and there are some great advice by community members. My situation is unique and i need some input from experienced people or locals!

I have been living in the Philadelphia metro area (DE suburb) for the last 15 years. Have 2 kids. The public schools in delaware are horrible. My kids are starting elementary school. I need to move somewhere where schools are good and i can stay put for next 10-12 years. (I used to live in Plano,TX for about a year in the 90s)

After living in the northeast I am very used to snow, lots of trees, mountains, beaches (delaware has some really good hidden beaches), and being close to multiple cities like NYC, Philly, DC, Baltimore. All just an hour or so away.

I cannot decide between DFW area (in particular Plano or Frisco) and Boston area (in particular southern New Hampshire). Please help - in the following areas:

1. which one would you recommend and why?
2. which schools are better
3. taxes wise which is better (IMO both are better than crappy DE income tax)
4. area wise - which is more diverse, tolerant, cool and affluent


Personally for me these are the pros and cons

NH Pros - Snow outside your window in winter!!, possible white christmas, "living in northeast" attitude, can still visit beaches in 2 hours
NH cons - expensive homes, crappy looking architecture

(DFW) TX pros - Amazing homes for the price, great architecture
(DFW) TX cons - NO snow, NO beaches, no trees(?)

I am confused where should i move?!!! two kids in private school will take close to $17k every year for the next 10 years. I have significant experience and I can get $100k+ jobs easily in both cities. I have a home to sell and i can afford a home only under $400k. I read lots of good stuff about Plano, but i will be in the middle of the country.. too far from beaches. Should i sacrifice beach and snow, for kids education and grand homes? Or, are there similar places in NH/boston area?

Thanks a lot

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Ill throw in my two cents:

1. which one would you recommend and why?
2. which schools are better
3. taxes wise which is better (IMO both are better than crappy DE income tax)
4. area wise - which is more diverse, tolerant, cool and affluent

1) I cant really answer number one. I prefer Texas, but thats just me.
2) Collin County has some really great school districts, especially Plano ISD. I dont know anything about NH, so I wont comment.
3) Texas has no state tax, but super high property taxes. I dont know anything about NH taxes.
4) As for which is more diverse, that would be the Collin County and both Plano and Frisco for sure. Southern New Hampshire is over 90% white. Plano is 58% white, 18% Asian, 16% Hispanic, and 9% black. Frisco is 67% white, 12% Asian, 11% Hispanic, and 10% black.
As for Tolerence, thats anyones guess. Im part of a mixed race couple and the people across the street are gay and we have no problems. I dont know about NH in this area so I wont comment.
As for cool, I could see why NH would be tops. Its by Boston which is considered a cooler city than Dallas and it has the mountains close by.
Affluence is a tie.

[Cliff Clavin]

Originally Posted by justme02

3) Texas has no state tax, but super high property taxes. I dont know anything about NH taxes.

Same as NH. No sales tax, but higher than average property taxes.

[offmove]

Yes, thats what I am seeing in terms of taxes. Both NH and TX has very high property taxes and no income taxes..

Another point - there is lot of land in NH for your house. (you would imagine otherwise though, TX being so big). In Plano and Frisco, homes are tooooo close to each other. You can hardly see 1/4 acre lot for 300k. On the other hand in NH, even newer homes are on 0.20 acre lot. But the homes themselves are missing the grand brick architecture. (which i love about plano)

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by offmove

The public schools in delaware are horrible.

You sound mad about something. Schools in Delaware can't be all that different from those of other states. I can't imagine that Texas would have any advantage over Delaware in the quality of its schools.

[offmove]

Originally Posted by missionhill

You sound mad about something. Schools in Delaware can't be all that different from those of other states. I can't imagine that Texas would have any advantage over Delaware in the quality of its schools.

Not really.. I am not mad about anything in particular.. Schools are bad in northern delaware. very bad.. period. even the teachers will tell you that. I am not saying entire Texas has better schools than Delaware.. but what I read online and in this forum, everyone talks about how good Plano ISD is.. In Delaware we have some good private schools (very expensive), some good charter schools (you may win powerball or lotto before winning a lottery seat in these), but all public schools are way below average. Too many "low income" type inner city kids, and kids from families who don't care about education - which leave the system completely out of control.. no discipline.. total chaos.. poor SAT scores.. rank pretty low in college acceptance ... poor teachers.. not enough funding.. the list goes on. Its a combination of all these and many other factors which make schools here not desirable. So IMO, Plano schools are far better. Unless I am completely reading some wrong threads and everyone is smoking something!!!

[offmove]

What is the bottomline? Boston metro vs Dallas metro.. which one is better?!!

[Dallaz]

It snows in Dallas. Some parts of Texas average 17 inches of snow every year.

[offmove]

Well.. to me it is not snow. We can couple of 18+ inch storms every year and it snows at least once or twice every week in winter months.. Dallas got snow maybe once in several years? That is what we call dust or light powder, up here. I am ready to sacrifice snow, and beaches and move to Dallas if it is worth it. If schools are incredible and homes are great, affordable and quality of life is fantastic, then that is what would make us move.

[offmove]

I guess I am trying to compare Boston Metro vs Dallas Metro. Which one is better for a family with two young kids..