Lifestyle in Dallas/Houston

[Cowboy Brian]

Hey all,

So I've been around for a long-time on these forums (much less frequently as of the past year or two while in school and working internships). I've been fortunate enough to secure a FT position within finance with a large firm and I'm trying to move offices. I am born and raised in NY and am not the biggest fan of the lifestyle, the cost of living is obscene and I was thinking of trying to move to either the Dallas or Houston office. Since many of you live in Texas I was hoping you may be able to shed some light on which of the two cities would be better for a 22 year old and how the lifestyle is. I've never visited, but I've been to Charlotte and Phoenix and enjoyed both much more than NY. Appreciate any and all input.

 

[DFWJC]

You'll probably never get people form Dallas or Houston to admit one is better than the other.

I've spent plenty of time in both, and prefer Dallas.

As a 22 year old, you would be loving life in uptown Dallas. I think the city is cleaner, better laid out, has a more diverse economy, has 4 seasons (though a very short winter), preposterously good-looking women, and better and more major sports teams.

Both cities have great food, boating, golf year around, bad mainline traffic if you live in the burbs, hot summers (bake in Dallas, broil in Houston...take your pick)

Dallas is amazing in it's sport representation right directly in DFW
NFL-Cowboys
NBA-Mavericks
MLB-Rangers
NHL-Stars
NCAA-TCU
NCAA-SMU
MLS--FC Dallas
PGA--Byron Nelson Classic, The Colonial
Nascar--Texas Motor Speedway

BTW, both Charlotte and Phoenix are good cities too. You get both beach and mountains fairly near Charlotte--which is nice. You can get to the desert and mountains from Phx.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

You'll probably never get people form Dallas or Houston to admit one is better than the other.

I've spent plenty of time in both, and prefer Dallas.

As a 22 year old, you would be loving life in uptown Dallas. I think the city is cleaner, better laid out, has a more diverse economy, has 4 seasons (though a very short winter), preposterously good-looking women, and better and more major sports teams.

Both cities have great food, boating, golf year around, bad mainline traffic if you live in the burbs, hot summers (bake in Dallas, broil in Houston...take your pick)

Dallas is amazing in it's sport representation right directly in DFW
NFL-Cowboys
NBA-Mavericks
MLB-Rangers
NHL-Stars
NCAA-TCU
NCAA-SMU
MLS--FC Dallas
Nascar--Texas Motor Speedway

BTW, both Charlotte and Phoenix are good cities too. You get both beach and mountains fairly near Charlotte--which is nice. You can get to the desert and mountains from Phx.

Appreciate the insight. Dallas sounds like heaven, though that may be largely because then I could attend Cowboys games lol!

I was also considering relocating to Austin so I could take some classes at U of T. Great program at that school, love the cases they put out. How would you say that city compares?

 

[DFWJC]

Appreciate the insight. Dallas sounds like heaven, though that may be largely because then I could attend Cowboys games lol!

I was also considering relocating to Austin so I could take some classes at U of T. Great program at that school, love the cases they put out. How would you say that city compares?

Austin is great. That would be a very different experience than the much larger cities.
The surrounding area is prettier (geographically) than either Dallas or Houston.
Even though it's smaller, it still has a lot of the cultural stuff like music and arts, as it's the state capitol and, as you said, home of UT.
Of course, at your age, having UT nearby and the Austin strip right there would be fun. Very cool vibe there. But then again, both Dallas and Houston have there areas of town that fit the bill too.
The traffic is as bad or worse there though, unfortunately.
No pro sports of course. But major college.

I think most people like Austin....usually a lot.

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

You'll probably never get people form Dallas or Houston to admit one is better than the other.

I've spent plenty of time in both, and prefer Dallas.

As a 22 year old, you would be loving life in uptown Dallas. I think the city is cleaner, better laid out, has a more diverse economy, has 4 seasons (though a very short winter), preposterously good-looking women, and better and more major sports teams.

Both cities have great food, boating, golf year around, bad mainline traffic if you live in the burbs, hot summers (bake in Dallas, broil in Houston...take your pick)

Dallas is amazing in it's sport representation right directly in DFW
NFL-Cowboys
NBA-Mavericks
MLB-Rangers
NHL-Stars
NCAA-TCU
NCAA-SMU
MLS--FC Dallas
PGA--Byron Nelson Classic, The Colonial
Nascar--Texas Motor Speedway

BTW, both Charlotte and Phoenix are good cities too. You get both beach and mountains fairly near Charlotte--which is nice. You can get to the desert and mountains from Phx.

You forgot NCAA-UNT....although most people who grew up in DFW root for either UT, OU, T A&M or T Tech.....(UT for me, HOOK EM HORNS!!)

 

[DFWJC]

You forgot NCAA-UNT....although most people who grew up in DFW root for either UT, OU, T A&M or T Tech.....(UT for me, HOOK EM HORNS!!)

I almost included them. Denton just seemed a bit out of DFW. Maybe not
UT-Arlington is division 1 also, in several or all sports now.

 

[MileyDancer]

Dallas >>>>>> Houston.

Definitely Dallas. It's not even a comparison.

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

I almost included them. Denton just seemed a bit out of DFW. Maybe not
UT-Arlington is division 1 also, in several or all sports now.

Huh? Denton is less than 40 miles from both Dallas and Ft.Worth, and is the top of the "Golden Triangle"....of course its part of DFW lol.....didnt know that was even in question......

 

[DFWJC]

Huh? Denton is less than 40 miles from both Dallas and Ft.Worth, and is the top of the "Golden Triangle"....of course its part of DFW lol.....didnt know that was even in question......

Oh...just noticed your Denton sig. Was wondering why the extra interest.
40 miles seemed like a long way to me but no skin off my back.
Ok

 

[Tabascocat]

Austin>Phoenix >Dallas>Houston and I am from Houston, way too hot and humid.

If you are feeling adventurous, come West this way to Cali

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

Oh...just noticed your Denton sig. Was wondering why the extra interest.
40 miles seemed like a long way to me but no skin off my back.
Ok

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas–Fort_Worth_metroplex "Principal cities"- Dallas, Ft. Worth, Arlington, Plano, Irving, Denton, Richardson.......

 

[Nova]

I'm 28. I have a friend who just moved here to Dallas after spending his life in Houston.

He says Dallas is better.

I gotta say, DFW has really taken off over the last 10 years.

Austin is the best city for a young person to live in, IMO... In TX at least. Great culture and great outdoors. But I've heard it's now overcrowded. During SXSW you may want to beat your head on your steering wheel because of traffic.

But overall, I would say Houston is a no go.

 

[Longboysfan]

Where in the DFW Metro Plex is the office located.

 

[Seven]

Austin>Phoenix >Dallas>Houston and I am from Houston, way too hot and humid.

If you are feeling adventurous, come West this way to Cali

Yeah....if ya like 10 year droughts, wild fires, out of the planet cost of living and log jam traffic.

 

[CyberB0b]

Austin is great. That would be a very different experience than the much larger cities.
The surrounding area is prettier (geographically) than either Dallas or Houston.
Even though it's smaller, it still has a lot of the cultural stuff like music and arts, as it's the state capitol and, as you said, home of UT.
Of course, at your age, having UT nearby and the Austin strip right there would be fun. Very cool vibe there. But then again, both Dallas and Houston have there areas of town that fit the bill too.
The traffic is as bad or worse there though, unfortunately.
No pro sports of course. But major college.

I think most people like Austin....usually a lot.

Austin is unlike any other part of Texas. Very liberal. Every other part of Texas is extremely conservative.

 

[DFWJC]

Austin is unlike any other part of Texas. Very liberal. Every other part of Texas is extremely conservative.

That too...to some degree.
But both Dallas county and Harris county (Houston) voted democrat last election. fwiw

 

[65fastback2plus2]

They have their pro's and con's for each.

I've lived in houston 23 years and I prefer dallas.

Slightly better weather
Better mass transit
Dallas Cowboys

Thats not to say Houston doesnt have its perks. For example, the 4th largest port in the US. Thats significant because the majority of trade worldwide happens through ports. Which means you'll have, typically, more and stronger companies located in Houston due to port access.

Houston also has quick access to a decent beech, or a little drive to a nice beech. Quick access to San Antonio and Austin as well.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

That too...to some degree.
But both Dallas county and Harris county (Houston) voted democrat last election. fwiw

Yup. Almost all major cities do if you look at a demographic map.

 

[Longboysfan]

Austin is unlike any other part of Texas. Very liberal. Every other part of Texas is extremely conservative.

Other than downtown Dallas.

I looked at the voting last time out only 2 counties voted Democratic in Texas.
Austin and Dallas.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

Austin is unlike any other part of Texas. Very liberal. Every other part of Texas is extremely conservative.

This. I grew up in Fort Worth, lived in Dallas (uptown area as someone mentioned,) did my undergrad at UT in Austin and never left. Austin is the best place to live in Texas IMO. The life style, food, women, and similar age population, and my interests are closer here.

Dallas is/feels more pretentious