A whopping 146,000 people moved to DFW in 2017. That’s 400 new residents a day! Perhaps it’s the wonderful weather, sports scene, or booming economy–whatever the reason, if you’re thinking of joining the plethora of new Dallas residents, we’ve got the scoop on why you should make the move.
Big business
A total of 9 Fortune 500 companies are headquartered within the Dallas city limits, including AT&T and Southwest Airlines. Defense, financial services, information technology, telecommunications, and transportation are the most dominant sectors of the city’s economy.
Additionally, Fortune 500 companies like American Airlines (Fort Worth), ExxonMobil (Irving), and J.C. Penney (Plano) are all headquartered within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Other big names like Toyota, Liberty Mutual, FedEx, and 7-Eleven call Dallas home, as well. Healthcare is another big industry in the Big D, with major employers like Texas Health Resources and Baylor Healthcare System.
No state income tax
Paychecks are a little fatter in Texas and, if you’re renting, you’ll reap the benefits. Texas collects no income tax, and makes up for it with higher property and sales taxes to fund state and local projects.
Pro sports
Dallas has all the pro sports one could wish for, with the MLB (Rangers), NBA (Mavericks), NHL (Stars), FC Dallas Women’s Professional Soccer Team, and even NASCAR events at Texas Motor Speedway filling the city with all the sports. Football might be Dallas’ favorite season, though, whether we’re talking high school, college, or “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys. Fun fact: the Statue of Liberty can fit in the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium with the retractable roof closed.
Grub Town
Dallas has more restaurants per capita than any other major US metropolitan area. In fact, Thrillist ranked Texas #1 for food out of all 50 states, citing Dallas’ meat-centric food scene. For the best BBQ in Houston, try Pecan Lodge in the heart of the Deep Ellum neighborhood–one of the trendiest hoods for young professionals–or venture farther for Cattleack BBQ in North Dallas. Feeling Tex-Mex? Dallas has you covered. Just visit Gabriela & Sofia’s, also in North Dallas, or El Vecino, a fun, kitschy spot in Uptown with a balcony perfect for enjoying fajitas and a margarita on a sunny day.
The nation’s largest urban arts district
The Dallas Arts District takes up 68-acres downtown, consisting of 19 blocks of museums, venues, and galleries. The performing and visual arts district serves as a hub for creativity and inspiration and houses the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Dallas Theatre Center, just to name a few.
Weather
Texas may be known for its heat, but with an average high of 76, and average low of 55, DFW has great weather all year. The beautiful climate lends itself to fun outdoor activities year-round, not just in the summer.
Texas state fair
The warm weather permits fun festivities all year, but the State Fair is by far the biggest one. Established in 1886, the Texas State Fair runs for 24 consecutive days, making it the longest-running fair in the nation, as well as one of the largest. Just head to Fair Park and look for Big Tex. Every September, the 55-foot statue beckons visitors from across the state and beyond to enjoy family fun and fair foods–from deep fried shepherd’s pie to cotton candy tacos. Who wouldn’t want a marshmallow-glazed graham cracker waffle cone “taco shell” filled with chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and cotton candy, topped with chocolate cookie crumbs?
Lakes
The beautiful weather also lends itself to longer summertime vibes, and DFW has no shortage of places to escape the heat. There are 13 lakes in the area, including Lewisville Lake, Lake Ray Hubbard, Ray Roberts Lake, Grapevine Lake, Joe Pool Lake, and Lavon Lake. Grab a friend and a kayak and get out on the water!
Central location
Due to its central location, Dallas is a great place to live if you’re a frequent traveler. Austin, Houston, and Oklahoma City are all less than four hours away by car, and pretty much the rest of the country is four hours away or less by plane. Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) is the Southwest Airlines hub, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport serves as American Airlines’ international hub.
Everything’s bigger in Texas–DFW is the second largest airport by land area in the nation, behind Denver. In fact, DFW has its own zip code and is bigger than Manhattan.
Ready to move to Dallas? We don’t see why not. The tacos alone are worth it, but the arts district, sports teams, and summertime lakes and fairs are added bonuses. So find your next apartment, pack your bags, and get yourself to Dallas.
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