Dallas, TX, is one of the largest cities in the U.S., a hub for tech jobs, a center for arts and culture, and a surprisingly affordable place to live. If you’re considering a move to a new city, Dallas may be on your list. Before making any move, however, you’re going to want to do a little research to make sure the city you’re considering is right for you.
In this article, we’ll go over some of Dallas’s claims to fame and reasons to consider moving there. By the end, you should have a decent idea of whether or not it’s the right place for you to move.
Dallas at a glance
Dallas is home to over 1.3 million people, making it the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest city in the U.S. It caters to people looking to live an urban, city-based lifestyle without the higher costs of living common to other major cities. Dallas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country thanks to its sunny weather, thriving job market, and lack of a state income tax.
Sports, art, food, and culture
Sports fans will find plenty to love in Dallas, from the legendary Dallas Cowboys to NASCAR, the Texas Rangers, and the Dallas Wings WNBA team. There are also plenty of golf courses in the surrounding areas for you to take in a tournament or play a round or two with friends.
If the arts are more your speed, check out the Dallas Arts District to satisfy your creative side. Home to the largest urban arts district in the country, Dallas features an array of cultural highlights, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and the historic Majestic Theater. Several neighborhoods are filled with artist lofts and studios, with Deep Ellum bringing art to the public with graffiti murals lining the streets, sidewalks, and buildings.
Casual and hardcore foodies alike will find plenty to love, as Dallas is full of restaurants serving Texas staples like barbecue, authentic Mexican food, Tex-Mex, and margaritas. However, as Dallas has grown, so has its array of food options; you’ll find plenty of restaurants serving Asian, Italian, African, and other delicious dishes from around the world.
Finally, don’t miss the many local attractions and festivals around the city. The Dallas Zoo, Reunion Tower, and the Margarita Mile are just a handful of what’s in store for you. There are also year-round cultural and arts festivals, and Dallas is even home to the longest-running state fair in the country. (Be sure to visit “Big Tex”, the official state fair mascot and the self-proclaimed largest cowboy in Texas.)
The job market
Job seekers of all industries and walks of life will find plenty of opportunities in Dallas. The city has been nicknamed “the Silicon Prairie” for its large array of tech companies and tech jobs, and it’s close to the town of Richardson and its “Telecom Corridor”, offering plenty of communications jobs as well.
Dallas is also a hub for jobs in finance, defense, transportation, and processing, being home to massive companies such as Wal-Mart, American Airlines, Bank of America, and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. The Dallas-Fort Worth region boasts one of the best rates of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as well; as of September 2025, the unemployment rate was at just 4.2 percent.
The cost of living
Dallas’s cost of living is about 9% higher than the Texas average and about the same as the national average, but it’s still significantly lower than many other major metropolitan areas; for example, rent is on average 55.5% lower than in New York City, and other expenses cost on average 26.5% less than NYC.
Home prices in Dallas are also somewhat lower than the national average; Zillow calculates the average home value in 2025 at $300,462, a 4.1% drop from 2024. Many homes also sell for under list price, so you should have no trouble negotiating the price you need if you plan on purchasing a home.
The median household income in Dallas was $67,760 as of the 2023 Census, somewhat lower than the US average for 2023. However, Texas offsets this by having no income tax, allowing residents to keep more of their paychecks.
Neighborhoods to consider
As with any major city, Dallas is divided into several different districts and neighborhoods with different vibes, and everyone is sure to find a place that fits their lifestyle. Here are a few neighborhoods we recommend looking into:
Lake Highlands
If living in a suburban area is what you want, Lake Highlands offers quiet streets lined with trees for your laid-back lifestyle needs. There’s plenty to do, from parks and trails to craft breweries and restaurants, and families will love the area’s top-rated school districts.
Uptown
Craving a trendy, fast-paced city lifestyle? Young professionals tend to flock to Uptown for its vibrant nightlife and popular dining spots. Prices are higher here, but in exchange, you’ll get a walkable environment and a short distance to Downtown.
Deep Ellum
Jazz buffs will love Deep Ellum, where many great jazz and blues artists once played. If you choose to live there, you’ll immerse yourself in that culture with plenty of live music, restaurants, arts centers, street art, barbecue, and bars.
Preston Highlands
This neighborhood offers a quaint small-town feel while still being close to Dallas’s city center and major motorways. Many families end up here, as it’s friendly to children and adults alike, and offers quality schools for those with school-aged kids.
Greenville
Whether you wind up in Upper or Lower Greenville, you’ll find plenty of luxurious homes and condos to choose from. Foodies will love the ramen shops, coffee houses, and the Truck Yard, a beer garden surrounded by food trucks.
A few more neighborhoods to look into:
- Highland Park
- Bishop Arts District
- Oak Lawn
- Campbell Green
Public transport
Traveling in Dallas can be a chore if you bring your own car, with downtown drivers losing about 56 hours per year sitting in traffic. Thankfully, there are plenty of options for public transport and walkable areas downtown. DART buses and light rail will get you from downtown to outlying areas of the city, including its two airports. Those sticking to the downtown area can opt to take the Dallas Streetcar or check out an electric scooter share.
Going between Uptown and downtown? Try out the McKinney Avenue Trolley; these air-conditioned and heated vintage trolleys have been fully restored for a clean, reliable, and free journey.
Schools and colleges
If you’re moving with a family and you’re worried about getting your children into a good school, you’re in luck. The Dallas Independent School District offers over 200 public schools, including the School for the Talented and Gifted, frequently named one of the best public high schools in the United States by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. Dallas also has over 100 private schools to choose from.
If you or your children are looking for a good college or graduate school, you’ll find plenty to choose from as well, such as Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas at Dallas, and the University of North Texas.
Local weather
If you like hot summers and mild winters, you’ll be right at home in Dallas. Summers are sunny and humid with high temperatures into the 90s, while winters rarely see snow and have average low temperatures of around 33 degrees Fahrenheit.
10 things to do when visiting Dallas
Whether you’re already committed to moving or just giving the city a look in person, make sure you visit Dallas if possible before you move there. Here are ten selected activities to get a feel for the city:
- Take a food tour through some of the most popular restaurants and neighborhoods.
- See the whole city from the top of the Reunion Tower.
- Stop by AT&T Stadium for a Dallas Cowboys game, concert, or just a visit to its arts exhibits.
- Spend a day of thrills at Six Flags Over Texas.
- Visit the Texas Discovery Gardens to see local flowers, butterflies, and snakes.
- See real aircraft and spacecraft from aeronautics history at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
- Visit the Ascend Camp and Retreat Center and take a guided horseback ride through its trails.
- Stop by the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza if you’re interested in the life, death, and legacy of John F. Kennedy.
- Bring your family to Trinity Forest & Southern Cross Adventure Center and enjoy ropes courses, ziplines, and other obstacles.
- Live a piece of jazz and blues history in the Deep Ellum district and catch up-and-coming new performers live.
Planning your move
As you’ve seen, Dallas has plenty to offer for culture, jobs, and affordability, and we wouldn’t blame you if you’ve already decided to move there. However, a move of any distance can be a chore if you don’t plan for it.
If you’re looking for self storage in Dallas while you go through the moving process, we can help! Use SelfStorage.com’s built-in search tool to compare the best storage facilities in Dallas with the features you need.
