Being the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States, Dallas over the years has evolved into being an industry leader in retail, fashion, and banking. There are no oil wells or ranches as depicted in the famous soap Dallas. However, the city of Dallas has many firsts to its credit like the 7-Eleven chain, first shopping center, and first car radio. From the creation of the integrated circuit to the ATM and frozen margarita, the city is home to a lot of different inventions.
As is with any metro area, Dallas has its pros and cons but the former outweighs the latter. Pleasant weather all-year-round, an established economy, affordable housing, low cost of living and many attractions make Dallas one of the best places to relocate.
Here is the guide that will help you relocate smoothly to Dallas.
Dallas Climate
The subtropical climate makes it hot and humid all-year-round with snowfall being a rare occurrence. Dallas owes its humidity to its proximity to the Trinity River and the presence of around 60 lakes within a 100-mile radius. Freezing rain known for its notoriety in causing major traffic disruptions occurs at least twice a year. Spring and autumn are mostly quite pleasant, although the former is susceptible to volatile weather. Being in the "Tornado Alley", tornadoes can be common and cause large amounts of destruction.
Dallas Neighborhoods
Downtown is the epicenter and contains most of the arts and performing centers. The West End Historic District is the oldest part of town that and has transformed itself from a warehouse district into one of the most happening places in the city with hotels, restaurants, and vibrant nightlife.
With a style that ranges from rugged to chic, Deep Ellum is home for blues, rock, and alternative music clubs. You can find prairie style homes of architectural significance in the Munger Place Historic District and on Swiss Avenue. Of late, Midtown is witnessing a lot of development with a lot of retail, and high-rise apartments coming up in that area. A large Hispanic population resides in Oak Cliff while La Reunion is interspersed with African American, Hispanic, and Native American cultures. You will find some of the most expensive homes at Preston Hollow.
Registering Your Car
The first few weeks can be a busy time for anyone who is new to Texas. One must make sure to register their vehicle as soon as they can. In order to do that one can find a local car service provider who will inspect your vehicle. There are also vehicle inspection stations available where one must show detailed proof of adequate insurance and your driver's license.
Upon moving to Texas, one must also apply for a Texas Driver's license. One must go to a driver's license division office of the Texas Department of Public safety. Unless you are a student or a military member you must submit any existing license and apply for a new license here. One has 90 days upon arrival to have a Texas driver's license. You must also make sure to learn about the Texas point system as getting a ticket in Texas can be very expensive.
Dallas Schools
In the city of Dallas, there are 337 public schools, 89 private schools and 38 colleges and universities. Dallas has a very widespread and diverse school system, particularly its public school system, which is among the best in the southern United States. The city is considered to be a center for education throughout much of the south central U.S. and some of the colleges and universities that can be found within the Dallas city limits are the University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas Baptist University, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Paul Quinn College.
Dallas Employment
Dallas is one of the biggest telecommunications hubs in the United States, and the city is home to several of the world's biggest telecom companies, who are headquartered in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas that is often referred to as Telecom Corridor. Companies like Texas Instruments, Nortel Networks, Alcatel Lucent, AT & T, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Nokia, Cisco Systems, Sprint, Verizon Communications and XO Communications, among thousands of others. The Greater Dallas-Fort Worth region is also the home to a large number of Fortune 500 companies – 20 in total – including ExxonMobil, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Neiman Marcus, Kimberly-Clark, 7-Eleven and many more.
Dallas Moving Resources
There are hundreds of reputable and reliable moving companies in the city of Dallas to help you with your move and get you unloaded and unpacked in your new home. Whether you're moving from within the state of Texas, or whether you're moving from the East or even the West coast, you'll find moving companies that can help you get settled in Dallas. Here are just a few of the movers you can find to handle your relocation to Dallas:
- American Knights Moving & Storage Inc.
- A-Team Moving and Storage
- Presto Logistics-TX
- Green Van Lines
- Progressive Moving
- 24 Hours Moving, Inc.
In addition, there are also many storage companies located within the city in case you need a place to store some of your belongings, whether it's for a short amount of time until you get settled in your new home, or for more long-term storage. You can find yourself a Dallas storage company to help fulfill your storage needs.
Living Costs in the City
Compared to other places the cost of living in Dallas is low. It is ranked 607 out of 780 cities in cost of living, with the number one ranking being the most expensive place to live and No. 780 representing the cheapest. To see just how low the cost of living is in Dallas, you can look at the commonly used goods and services and convert them into common currency. In Dallas, education and healthcare costs are relatively high when compared to other places. However, common commodities like clothing, alcohol, grocery, furniture, communication, and restaurants are cheaper than they are in most of the other big cities. Low-cost housing options are another thing that attracts people to this city. The median price of a house is around $200,000 and the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment ranges from $800 to $900.
Public Transportation
Buses, rail lines and high occupancy vehicle lanes are managed by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). The credit for operating the first light rail in the Southwest United States goes to DART. A more economical and efficient way of transportation is DART on-call, which is a fleet of 14-passenger buses. FLEX is a service for a designated fixed route and passengers intending to obtain this service should reserve it at least one hour in advance. For people who are physically challenged and cannot use buses or trains, DART also features a curb-to-curb paratransit service.
Culture and Contemporary Life
Anchored in rich cultural values of the rugged American West and South that is agriculturally influenced, Dallas has grown and diversified over the years. The Downtown area houses various museums and art venues at a walking distance from each other. Considered the birthplace of malls in the U.S., Dallas Galleria and North Park Center have high-end stores that are a huge attraction among tourists.
Among the events that occur, the annual State Fair of Texas generates millions of dollars for the local economy. From modernist to neoclassical to gothic revival to post-modernism, architecture in Dallas is an interesting feature to watch out for. You can take a tour of homes on Swiss Avenue and their different types of architecture. Tex-Mex is the name given to the cuisine most commonly found in Dallas, which uses ingredients like beef, pork, cheese, beans, and spices.
Moving to Dallas
With a low cost of living and the second highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies, Dallas has become a favorite place to relocate. Choosing the right moving company is a tough job though and it takes a lot of careful research on the Internet to find one. There are many moving companies available to provide moving services for you and you should check their rating with the local Better Business Bureau. Before hiring any company, also remember to ask for references and cross-check them. The expenditure incurred on a move directly depends on the weight of the goods. It is a good practice to sell or donate things that you have not used in a long time, or that can be replaced easily at your new home.
Dallas Relocation Tips
- A pre-move trip is a great way to get the taste of this city and its culture. You can survey various neighborhoods and choose the one that best suits your needs.
- It would be to your advantage if you speak or are knowledgeable in Spanish along with English, as in some parts of the city Spanish is spoken.
- Always check whether the insurance coverage offered by your moving company covers the high-end items that you will be moving.
- Make sure to give proper instructions to the driver and the crew about the address of your location in Dallas to prevent loss or delay in getting your belongings.
- Check the documentation and permits of your moving company and make sure that they can legally operate in the city prior to the onset of the move.
- Having a back-up plan will help you in dealing with situations where the mover cancels on you or the movers don't show up at the last minute.