What are the big differences between living in Houston and living in Dallas? (Austin: college, move)

[Frustratedintelligence]

Originally Posted by utche96

https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/9...ton-and-Dallas

This is a good comparison of Houston and Dallas in terms of weather. Significant differences - Dallas is colder in winter, Houston is muggier in the summer.

Again, if we look at the coldest month of the year for both metros, you're only seeing a 7° difference between the two. Which suggests that if it's 31 in Dallas then it's possibly 38 in Houston. I just don't think that counts as significant for most people.

Houston does receive much more rainfall throughout the year. That's worth considering and it's the only reason I prefer its weather.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by Frustratedintelligence

Again, if we look at the coldest month of the year for both metros, you're only seeing a 7° difference between the two. Which suggests that if it's 31 in Dallas then it's possibly 38 in Houston. I just don't think that counts as significant for most people.

Houston does receive much more rainfall throughout the year. That's worth considering and it's the only reason I prefer its weather.

That's literally the difference between being just really cold and below freezing. Wet roads vs icy roads. In the wintertime those 7 degrees can make a big difference.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

That's literally the difference between being just really cold and below freezing. Wet roads vs icy roads. In the wintertime those 7 degrees can make a big difference.

I thought the same thing. 7 degrees not a big difference? In what world?

[Frustratedintelligence]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

That's literally the difference between being just really cold and below freezing. Wet roads vs icy roads. In the wintertime those 7 degrees can make a big difference.

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

I thought the same thing. 7 degrees not a big difference? In what world?

If it's below freezing, which it usually isn't and when it does it's mostly late at night when the majority of people are at home anyway.

While places like Chicago or New York are likely to be 20° colder and Miami is that much warmer, no I don't think the difference between Dallas and Houston matters to anyone that's lived outside of the south central U.S.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by Frustratedintelligence

If it's below freezing, which it usually isn't and when it does it's mostly late at night when the majority of people are at home anyway.

While places like Chicago or New York are likely to be 20° colder and Miami is that much warmer, no I don't think the difference between Dallas and Houston matters to anyone that's lived outside of the south central U.S.

Even though both have generally similar weather there is one season that can see more differences than usual and that is winter. I liken it to SoCal and how in the summer the coastal cities can be 30 degrees cooler than cities in the Inland Empire. But in the winter the weather doesnt vary nearly as much.

The opposite is true in Texas. DFW can get several ice storms in one winter whereas Houston will get none. But rarely a summer goes by that DFW doesnt get thunderstorms just like Houston.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Even though both have generally similar weather there is one season that can see more differences than usual and that is winter. I liken it to SoCal and how in the summer the coastal cities can be 30 degrees cooler than cities in the Inland Empire. But in the winter the weather doesnt vary nearly as much.

The opposite is true in Texas. DFW can get several ice storms in one winter whereas Houston will get none. But rarely a summer goes by that DFW doesnt get thunderstorms just like Houston.

DFW tends to get more tornadoes than Houston. DFW heat is more brutal than Houston's.

[hbcu]

there are more ideas floating around in Dallas due to corporate relocations - you see things in Dallas you dont see anywhere else in Texas - the Dallas burbs are way more aggressive than Houston in terms of attracting venues -

there is no Frisco equivalent in Houston - and I mean a burb that grew overnight with the ability to attract pro sports and minor league teams within a few years -

Grand Prairie has a minor league team and nice music venue - Dallas has that - Fort Worth has Dickies - Arlington has the Cowboys/Rangers - Duncanville has a lock on youth sports in terms of facilities like basketball - you have the Toyota Music place in Irving - you have Great Wolfe Lodge/Gaylord in Grapevine, etc.

Sugar Land wants to be a certain type of city and frowns on multifamily living but its a glorified bedroom community with minor league baseball and a nice concert venue

Missouri City is a bedroom community
Pearland is a bedroom community
The Woodlands has the music pavilion for summer events and decent amenities but is too far for the average person
Humble, Spring, Cypress, etc. have really nothing to hang their hats on except a glorified suburban area

Galveston honestly if it ever got its act together is the equalizer as the beach is the attraction

[simon22]

Ugh, I wish I would've specified in the original post/title that I'm only interesting in comparing the city propers and NOT their suburbs.

[Redlionjr]

Biggest differences in the city proper?

1) Dallas has a more reliable rail system available.

2) Houston imo tends to have more ethnically diverse integrated spaces in the city(not residentially but socially)

3) Houston's sporting venues are all located in the city proper, Dallas not so.

4) Houston has no answer to Uptown Dallas nor Deep Ellum

Those are about the biggest differences I can think of. Houston and Dallas city proper wise are more alike than they are different though.

[crone]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

Biggest differences in the city proper?

1) Dallas has a more reliable rail system available.

2) Houston imo tends to have more ethnically diverse integrated spaces in the city(not residentially but socially)

3) Houston's sporting venues are all located in the city proper, Dallas not so.

4) Houston has no answer to Uptown Dallas nor Deep Ellum

Those are about the biggest differences I can think of. Houston and Dallas city proper wise are more alike than they are different though.

We could use the pool a month longer in Dallas. Pretty much Easter to Thanksgiving.

It is easier to get around in Dallas, driving wise.

Alley ways for garage and trash cans. And the city of Dallas picks up tree trimmings once a month. Put any size or length on the curb, no bundling in 4 foot sections.