They say everything is bigger and better in Texas– and Dallas is no exception. As the ninth most populous city in the United States, it’s a place where cowboy culture and innovation meet. Award-winning museums and creative cuisine take center stage amidst a backdrop of trendy nightlife and charming history. (In fact, Dallas is well-known for having some of the most architecturally significant neighborhoods in the country!)
Mix in acclaimed live music venues, professional sports, and exemplary schools, and you have the recipe for living well. Whether you prefer the peace and quiet of a mature tree-lined street or the urban appeal of shops and restaurants right outside your door, Dallas has a home and a neighborhood for you.
Historically, Dallas has seen consistently low home prices and a higher quality of life than its big-city counterparts. This is in part due to its many diverse neighborhoods— each with a unique look and feel— coupled with forward-thinking developers who put pride of place and commerce at the center of it all.
Dallas’ prime position as a leading business and financial center in the Southwest adds to the allure. The city’s central location, favorable tax incentives, and two major airports with more domestic nonstop flights than any other U.S. city, are a few other major selling points.
Big hair and big business may have put Dallas on the map, but its exceptional cost of living and renowned southern hospitality make it one of America’s most desirable places to live.
Vibe
Bold, bright, and booming. Dallas is an eclectic metropolis with a rich heritage that dates back to the nineteenth century. From its beginnings as a farming and ranching hub, to its rapid growth during the industrial era, to the East Texas oil boom and present-day technological age, Dallas continues to impress with its ever-changing landscape.
Think rustic-chic, but with a twist. Dallas is a beautiful place with highly intelligent folk who can be found in cowboy boots one day and black ties the next. There is a reason locals say, “the bigger the hair the closer to God” and you’ll see why. But it’s not all about looks. The fabric of Dallas is rooted in business— with old and new money paving the way for what the city is today: a fabulous place to live, work, and play.
Our favorite spots
Dallasites love taking a stroll through Klyde Warren Park. The 5.2-acre oasis rests in the heart of the city and bridges both Uptown and Downtown with its lush green space, cultural offerings, cocktail spots, and delectable food trucks. In Uptown, you can catch an outdoor concert, shop in the West Village, and grab a bite to eat from a celebrity chef.
In fact, several of the best-known celebrity chefs have restaurants right here, from Kent Rathbun's Imoto to Dean Fearling's namesake at the Ritz-Carlton. For sports enthusiasts, there is no better place to cheer on the Mavericks and Dallas Stars than Victory Park. And, come fall, football fans flock to AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington to cheer on “America’s Team:” The Dallas Cowboys.
Things to know
If you’re not from around here, you’ll quickly learn that the Dallas sprawl is real. Major thoroughfares like Interstates 20, 30, 35E, and 45 run throughout the city in a wagon wheel shape that can at times be a little bit daunting. But do not fret! You’ll get familiar. Keep in mind the Lyndon B. Johnson Loop and President George Buch Turnpike too. After all, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
There’s more than bustling traffic and sheer scale. Dallas attractions are like dazzling gems hiding in plain sight. There are meccas like Oak Cliff’s Bishop Arts District— known for its trendy eateries and boutiques. Plus, the famed Arts District in Central Dallas includes 20 square blocks of nationally recognized galleries and performing arts venues. Most notably: The Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, and Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
Upscale enclaves like Highland Park— which has its own police department and top-ranked school district— can be found settled next to friendly neighborhoods like University Park, a community best known for its academic institutions: Southern Methodist University and the George W. Bush Presidential Center.
High-rise dwellers adore Turtle Creek for its picturesque parks and tony condominiums, while tight-knit Oak Lawn celebrates the LGBTQ community and ranks as one of the most gay-friendly neighborhoods in the country. And that’s not all. Places like the ultra-private Preston Hollow and charming pocket neighborhoods surrounding White Rock Lake are also a big draw.
