My husband has a job opportunity in North Dallas. We are considering the move from Wesley Chapel, FL to Dallas, TX. I am looking for anyone who has lived both places that can give me pros and cons. We have twins that are 4 and want to be in a family friendly area with excellent schools. Thanks for your help!!!!
2007-01-29 08:28:34 · 9 answers · asked by Cindy 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Dallas
Dallas is much drier than Tampa!!! I hate humidity so for me this is a big plus. The biggest downfall to Dallas is the lack of natural outdoor type of things to do - there are man made lakes and that's about it without driving a couple hundred miles.
As far as family friendly and excellent schools, the North Dallas neighborhoods of Plano, Frisco, and Allen are chock-a-block with kids and tricycles. The downside is that there is not much family age diversity. The schools are extremely competitive and have huge graduating classes.
There is a great compromise - Richardson or Lake Highlands. Richardson itself has only a few really nice areas, but there is a section of Dallas you can live in that feeds into the Richardson school district. Much more neighborhood diversity. And reasonable home prices with a variety of home price choices.
Even DISD schools - especially the North Dallas ones - aren't as bad as some folks will tell you - smart kids do well anywhere!!!
You need to know that although there is no income tax in Texas, we make up for it with very high property taxes - a $300,000 house will pay $7,000 in taxes. We also have about the highest electricity costs in the nation.
As far as your kids, anywhere in Dallas there are great programs for kids. It is very competitive here once the kids get older for athletics and academics.
Hope this helps.
2007-01-31 05:50:02 · answer #1 · answered by kramerdnewf 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cindy,
I travel quite frequently for my position as a corporate trainer. In fact, I'll be back in Tampa during the week of the 5th. I can tell you that Tampa and Dallas are very different. There are a lot more opportunities for jobs in Dallas due to having more Fortune 500 Companies than my hometown of Chicago. After that, the advantages stop.
You'll lose the natural beauty of the Gulf and the beaches. Dallas doesn't have any respectable bodies of water. It's hot and humid although it's not as humid as Tampa. It's very flat. I can tell you that if I lived in Tampa for my first 4 years and my parents told me that I had the opportunity of growing up near beaches but we decided to move to Dallas, I'd be pretty upset.
You might find moving to the Frisco area a plus as the school systems are very well put together. Do NOT enroll them in a school inside of Dallas County. Frisco is a great area to raise a family.
Oh, and they don't have Checkers down in Dallas and that alone should stop you from moving. :)
2007-01-30 01:37:37 · answer #2 · answered by Ray Michael 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have lived and raised children in both Dallas and Tampa. Dallas is far more family friendly than Tampa and there are many more opportunities as far as things to do, child care, employment, etc.. About the only true cons are the very very cold weather in the winter and that the schools are not quite as good in Texas as in Florida - generally speaking of course.
The Rockwall and Rowlett areas are lovely!
2007-02-02 05:02:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I just wanted to add one thing about Frisco. It is about the fastest growing suburb around Dallas and it's really nice. Since it's growing so fast (it's doubled in size in the past 5 years), they are building schools right and left. I've heard lots of people complaining about their child having to change schools so often because the boundaries keep changing. One lady I know has had to have her daughter in three different schools and she's only in the 4th grade. That can be really hard on a child. I would check out Plano or Richardson. You can find homes in all price ranges in these areas, but as a general rule - I would try to stay west of the main highway. (I-75/Central Expressway)
2007-01-31 20:48:43 · answer #4 · answered by amethyst1195 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I live in a suburb outside Dallas, and a co-worker of mine that lived in Clearwater Florida moved to my same town when she was offered a job here. She is single and left her friends and family back home. When she went back for the holidays she interviewed around Tampa and got a job offer. She moved back to Florida just last week and is much happier there.
I say come over for a visit, and if your first impression is "no" then stay.
2007-01-31 06:59:26 · answer #5 · answered by Texarican 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's an interesting question!
2016-09-20 22:32:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This topic is worth people's attention
2016-08-23 16:36:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
After reading the points that Ray made, where would you want to be?
I think jobs and good schools would overide beaches.
2007-01-30 14:56:26 · answer #8 · answered by Victor H 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm curious too
2016-07-28 08:04:47 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋