Possible Move to Duncanville or Surrounding Area (Dallas, Fort Worth: high crime, homes)

[gohawks3]

I have a job opportunity in Duncanville and I am in the information gathering stage about the area. I have been to the DFW area before, but it has been a while and I do not know the area well enough to know the best areas to live. While I would be working in Duncanville, my wife would either be working at the UNT Health Campus in Ft. Worth or UT-Southwestern in Dallas. The goal is to keep both of our commutes under 30mins each way.
There isn't a preference on a city to live in. The main things we are looking for is a safe area where crime is not an issue, amenities nearby (restaurants, grocery stores, breweries, etc.) and easy access to recreation (lakes, biking or hiking). Currently we are looking at Southwest Dallas, Grand Prairie, and Cedar Hill. Any information or input would be greatly appreciated!

[ChristieP]

There's no way that your wife's commute from Duncanville to either of those places will be under 30 minutes. I'd say it's closer to 45 minutes or an hour.

What's your budget for housing?
Are public schools important?

[gohawks3]

No kids, so schools don't matter. We will be looking to buy a home once we get to know the area a bit. We would like to stay under $250k, but can stretch that if necessary to $300k. I've seen some nice homes in Arlington and it seems like there is quite a bit to do there. Plus it's between Dallas and Ft Worth, so that would be nice.

[WorldKlas]

If the job is at UNT Health in FTW, then Arlington or Mansfield would work. If the job is at UT Southwestern, then Cedar Hill or Dallas is a better match. Consider North Oak Cliff in Dallas!

[ChristieP]

If schools don't matter, then Arlington will be a good option.

[gohawks3]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

If schools don't matter, then Arlington will be a good option.

That's good to hear! I'm liking Arlington because I feel like you could get the best of both worlds (Dallas & Fort Worth) with it essentially being between the two cities.

What are the recreation options like there? I see that there are quite a few lakes. Are any good for swimming?

[numbersguy100]

Originally Posted by gohawks3

That's good to hear! I'm liking Arlington because I feel like you could get the best of both worlds (Dallas & Fort Worth) with it essentially being between the two cities.

What are the recreation options like there? I see that there are quite a few lakes. Are any good for swimming?

Living in Arlington is probably not a bad option for your commutes, but I would set your expectations appropriately. It won't be like having the best of both cities. The reality is that it just means that neither will very convenient. There are some decent outdoor recreation areas in Arlington, although Cedar Hill is better in that regard. I'm not sure whether any of the lakes in Arlington are good for swimming.

[gohawks3]

Originally Posted by numbersguy100

Living in Arlington is probably not a bad option for your commutes, but I would set your expectations appropriately. It won't be like having the best of both cities. The reality is that it just means that neither will very convenient. There are some decent outdoor recreation areas in Arlington, although Cedar Hill is better in that regard. I'm not sure whether any of the lakes in Arlington are good for swimming.

Thanks for the info. I definitely see your viewpoint on both cities being out of the way. Although it seems like Arlington has enough amenities to stand on its own. Right now we are torn between Arlington and Southern Dallas. If anyone could offer some pros and cons between the two that would be fantastic!

[ChristieP]

Parts of southern Dallas can be high crime, so check the crime maps before making a decision.

Personally, I don't swim in lakes. I know Joe Pool Lake is very popular for recreation.

[gohawks3]

I have also heard quite a bit about Irving. Any thoughts?