Moving to Dallas is easier when you stop thinking of Dallas-Fort Worth as one place. The region is a network of cities and neighborhoods, and where you live can affect your commute, errands and social life more than a few miles on a map might suggest.
Choose around your daily drive
Before comparing apartments or houses, map your likely commute at the times you will actually travel. Dallas traffic changes dramatically by corridor and time of day, so a short distance does not always mean a short trip.
Understand the transit option
DART operates rail, bus, GoLink, streetcar and paratransit service across the Dallas side of the region. DART Rail has four lines, and the Trinity Railway Express connects downtown Dallas with downtown Fort Worth.
Neighborhoods are different from suburbs
Inside Dallas, areas such as Uptown, Bishop Arts, Deep Ellum, Lakewood and Lower Greenville each have a distinct feel. Outside the city, places such as Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Richardson, Irving and Carrollton can offer very different commute patterns and housing options.
Plan for the weather
North Texas summers are hot, and outdoor routines change around that reality. Covered parking, HVAC condition, shade and pool access can matter more in daily life than they appear to during a quick apartment tour.
Use the airports to your advantage
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field give the region unusually strong air access. Which airport is more convenient depends heavily on where you live and which airlines you use most often.
Give yourself time to learn the metroplex
Do not try to “solve” DFW in one weekend. Pick the areas that fit your work and budget first, then spend time in them at breakfast, rush hour and evening. The best neighborhood on paper can feel very different at the times you will actually use it.
Source
DART transit services · Visit Dallas neighborhood and city resources
Hero image: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC-licensed.
