MARIE BAILEY REAL ESTATE
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WHAT’S IT LIKE TO LIVE IN THE
DALLAS / FORT WORTH AREA?
You can find both big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area offers an interesting mix of Texas pride and various cosmopolitan options.
The cowboy life still exists in Fort Worth, while Dallasites love the trendy local bars and numerous retail shops. And no matter which part of the metroplex they call home, sports fans rally together behind their professional sports teams.
The small-town feel of Friday night football games and backyard parties exists in the suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth. In those areas, residents can bump into their friends at the local Tex-Mex restaurant, children ride their bikes and joggers hit the pavement for evening runs. But even in DFW proper, many people exude that Texas friendliness with a wave or a “hello” to strangers.
Those who live in Dallas and Fort Worth tend to be young professionals, while the surrounding suburbs are largely filled with young families who want both a close-knit community and easy access to the cities.
People from both demographics are flooding the area, and the population has swelled from about 5.8 million people in 2005 to more than 7.2 million people today. New developments have drawn in both families looking for their dream home and millennials looking to launch their careers.
What’s the weather like?
Come summertime, the weather in this part of Texas can feel unbearable. But during the rest of the year, a mild climate yields an enjoyable atmosphere for attending sporting events, enjoying neighborhood parks or walking around town.
What’s the cost of living?
DFW’s housing market is one of the hottest in the nation. As more and more professionals move to DFW, the downtown rental rates have risen. Home prices have also climbed over the past few years.
Dallas / Fort Worth Stats
The metroplex encompasses 12 counties. Singles or young couples without children fill rentals within the major cities, while families fill the nearby suburban towns. Only about a tenth of the population in both Dallas and Tarrant counties, which include the cities of Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington and Irving, is older than 65, and quieter living is found in the outer counties, such as Hood County.
In affluent areas such as Trophy Club and Mansfield, home values can tower in the multi-millions. Still, the upper middle class section has boomed, with many families moving to the suburbs to place their children in the excellent school systems.
Megachurches such as The Village Church, T.D. Jakes’ The Potter’s House and Prestonwood Baptist are also hallmarks of DFW.
U.S. News analyzed 125 metro areas in the United States to find the best places to live based on quality of life and the job market in each metro area, as well as the value of living there and people’s desire to live there.
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas is ranked:
#18 in Best Places to Live
#11 in Best Places to Retire
The Best Way To Get Around DFW
Because most DFW-area residents choose to drive, traffic can be a daily issue in the metroplex, especially during rush hours, but the expanding tollways have helped quicken commutes. As the cities continue to grow and the housing market flourishes, many residents face a commute time between 20 minutes to an hour.
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit system is an alternative to driving, especially if you work in downtown Dallas. The rail system’s coverage is limited, however, with only about 60 stations spread out over the area. Its best use is during city events and concerts when riders can take the DART from stations in Plano and Irving to downtown Dallas. Fort Worth’s equivalent is the Trinity Railway Express.
The DFW metroplex is home to two airports: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (an American Airlines hub) and Dallas Love Field. Both Dallas and Fort Worth have Amtrak train stations and Greyhound bus stations.
