7 Reasons Why Everyone Is Relocating to Dallas

-Employment Outlook
-Things to do
-Educational Opportunities 

The secret is out — Dallas rocks, and everyone is moving there. Why? Well, to start, the economy is ablaze like a giant recession-proof torch. There are endless things to do, and Texans are irresistibly friendly and down-to-earth. Thinking about joining the flock of folks craving warm weather and endless possibilities to make money? Let us help you make your decision.

Dallas Highlights

As one of the fastest growing cities and one of the best places to live in America, Dallas is booming, and we are going to tell you why. But first, the truth is, Dallas’s appeal is nothing new. If you look back in history, you’ll see that Dallas has always been known for its ability to attract and create wealth, and it has long been a haven for goods, services and entertainment.

Birthed from an entrepreneurial spirit, Dallas was founded by John Neely Bryan in 1841 as a trading post. It soon became a hub for business, offering the surrounding rural areas a place to get everything one needed, from shoes to insurance. By 1870, Dallas had already grown to a population of about 3,000.

By the early 20th century, Dallas was the southwestern leader of the book, pharmaceutical, liquor and jewelry markets as well as the world’s leading inland cotton manufacturer and one of the best saddlery and cotton gin machinery manufacturers in the world. By 1910, the population was a hefty 92,104.

But it wasn’t just business that has always made this city great. Art, education and sports have deep roots in Dallas and can be traced back to its early years. Popular music had been heartily welcomed in the 1920s and 1930s, and Dallas was home to performances from many great jazz and blues musicians. If Dallas seems like a surprise to some, it should be known that its liveliness, innovation and artistic celebration has been around for a long time.

Recently, the Dallas metro area was one of two areas, the Houston metro being the other, that added more people than any other metro in the country between 2015 and 2016. Now, the population of the metro is over seven million.

Ready to Move There? Here’s Why You Should

So, what is it about Dallas that gives this place a magnetic pull? Let’s take a look at the biggest reasons why everyone is packing up and heading to one of the Lone Star State’s most beloved treasures.

1. There Are Tons of Jobs for Everyone

Whether you’re a recent grad or looking for a career change, do yourself a favor and head to Dallas. Dallas is known for its thriving economy, is home to some of the wealthiest people in the country and loves the liberty to do business. In Dallas, you’re encouraged to put your talents to work and rake in the big bucks. Also in this mecca of opportunity, expect to find:

• A Low unemployment rate: As of November 2017, the unemployment rate was 3.2 percent in the Dallas metro according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for the country was 4.1 percent.
• Growth: According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, employment is expected to grow 3.3 percent in 2018 with growth across most major industries. You can rest assured that this town isn’t planning to hit the brakes anytime soon.
• Fortune 500 companies: Dallas is home to 22 of America’s 500 largest companies such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T and American Airlines — not to mention dozens of other large companies that employ hundreds of people.
• Job diversity: In November 2017, the BLS reported that nonfarm jobs went up 100,400 to 3,683,700 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — twice the national rate. Dallas ranked first in job growth and the number of jobs added out of the 12 largest metro areas in the United States. All sectors of jobs are growing, from professional and business services to government jobs.
• One of the best places for recent grads: The Dallas metro ranked number two as the best city for recent grads as well as for rent and jobs according to Time magazine, with 16.5 percent grad-friendly job postings and 11.1 percent affordable rent listings. In 2017, Bankrate ranked Dallas number five as one of the best places to start your career.

If you’re struggling to find work where you are currently living, you might consider moving where the money is — a.k.a Dallas.

2. It’s Affordable

Not only are your chances of finding a decent job with a big company much higher in Dallas than other cities, but you’ll also get to enjoy your pay more, too. Although Dallas ranks as two percent higher than the national average for cost of living, consider how it stands up next to other major metros. For example, in New York City expect a 129 percent higher cost of living, or consider Miami, which is 14 percent higher. By comparison, Dallas really isn’t so bad.

Other Texan towns may be well below the national average for cost of living, but you might not find the job opportunities that Dallas offers. For this reason, it may be worth the average studio apartment price tag of $960 a month. But, with the average salary being $59,885 per year, again — not so bad.

3. A Car Is Unnecessary

It’s true — Texans love cars. However, contrary to popular belief, you can live and work in Dallas without a car.

Cars can be a real pain, and they cost a lot. Between repairs, maintenance, insurance and inspection, you’re liable to have car costs haunting you like a sly little ghost. Just when you think you’ve saved enough for that new pair of kicks — boom! Your car needs a catalytic converter or a brand new tire rod — and you might find yourself wondering if a tire rod is even real.

Well, that’s one reason why cities are awesome, including Dallas. Although the majority of Dallas residents use cars to get around, walkability and bike-ability are certainly ideas in motion as we speak. In the meantime, there are plenty of efficient and convenient public transportation options leaving you the freedom to ditch your jalopy and enjoy car-free living.

For example, as a Dallas resident, you can take advantage of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). DART offers 64 rail stations, 10 Trinity Railway Express (TRE) stations and 14 bus transfer facilities. DART runs daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Also, there is an abundance of bike trails throughout the Dallas metro making it possible to get around by bike. Over 100 miles of bike and hike trails exist within the city of Dallas. The only thing to keep in mind is that it can get pretty hot in Texas during summer months, so you’ll probably want to have air-conditioned rides available when needed.

Dallas is also becoming a more pedestrian-friendly city with vibrant, walkable neighborhoods like Uptown and Oak Lawn.

It’s also worth mentioning that Dallas has the air service you need, and you don’t have to travel far just to hop on a plane. There are two major airports in Dallas — the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and the Dallas Love Field Airport. Although you really would never need to go too far from Dallas, we understand wanderlust. We’ll save your half-eaten plate of barbecue for when you return.

4. There’s No Such Thing as Boredom

It’s highly unlikely you’ll walk down the street and find people yawning and complaining there’s nothing to do in Dallas. And, if you think Dallas is all about cowboys and beef, you’ve been lied to. This diverse, modern city has so much to offer for everyone no matter what they enjoy or have an interest in. Whether you live and breathe sports, have an inclination for the arts or could literally shop til you drop, Dallas will not disappoint. People are not just moving to Dallas because there are jobs, but also because it’s also so darn fun. Some ways to pass the time and live it up in the Big D include:

• Immerse yourself in arts and culture: Spend a day at one of the dozens of museums like the Dallas Museum of Art or the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Visit the many galleries, restaurants and shops in the Dallas Arts District.
• Go to a game: Sports fans will quickly fall in love in with the Dallas metro whether they want to watch the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T stadium or the pros shoot hoops at the American Airlines Center. Baseball fans can head to Globe Life Park in Arlington to get their peanuts and root for the Texas Rangers.
• Experience the nightlife: If you love great drinks, fun crowds and live music, you’ll be glad you moved to Dallas. The Uptown neighborhood ranked number 18 as one of America’s best neighborhoods for pub crawls with one bar for every 192 people who live there. Restaurants, bars and live music venues abound for every taste and style. Whether you’re looking to dance, rock, cry the blues or chill out to some smooth jazz, Dallas has you covered.
• Attend an event: Festivals, concerts, parades — which do you choose? There’s always something going on in Dallas. For example, you might take part in JMBLYA, one of Dallas’s best and biggest music festivals. Join thousands to enjoy hip-hop, free water, tons of food and waterslides.
• Take a food tour: Get to know the delectable side of Dallas with a food tasting tour. There are plenty of tours to choose from too, whether you want to take your date on a chocolate tour or a barbeque tour. In Dallas, you’ll have the chance to make your mouth happy, have fun and learn the history of Dallas’s culinary gems.
• Engage in shopping therapy: Dallas is a shopper’s paradise. In fact, there are more stores per capita than any other U.S. city, and Dallas is home to America’s oldest shopping center — Highland Park Village. At Highland Park Village, shoppers can browse high-fashion shops, fine jewelry and indulge their senses in classy cafes.

• Get back in touch with nature: Dallas offers plenty of opportunities for nature lovers to catch a breath of fresh air and take a break from city stimulation. Check out 66 acres of gorgeous floral displays any day of the year at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, go fishing or kayaking at White Rock Lake Park or go on an African safari at Dallas Zoo. There are plenty more ways to explore the fascinating geography and wildlife of Texas, within Dallas or a short drive from the city.

With so many amenities, places to eat and great company, you can live life to the fullest with without breaking the bank. Are you beginning to see why people are flocking to Dallas by the dozens? If you’re not yet convinced, that’s okay, too. We have a few more items on the list.

5. It Rarely Snows

If you think a Dallas summer feels like falling into the Earth’s molten core, well, you may be right. However, if you are from the north and want to cry every time winter peeks its head around the corner, a move to Dallas might be a smart one.

Yes, it gets hot in the summer in Dallas, but this does not mean you will need to hide in air conditioning for several months out of the year. If you think about it, a lot of states experience brutally hot days, and we are confident you have developed the skills to survive such weather. Plus, a usually snowless winter makes a heatwave worth it to many.

Dallas winters are mild, rainfall frequently occurs more at night and most thunderstorms hit in the spring. Said plainly, snow is a rare occurrence. It can reach an average high of low to mid-nineties during the summer months, and it can still get pretty cold in the winter — but doesn’t an average high of 61 in February sound great?

So, if you get bummed out by piles of snow blocking your front door and if you don’t like spending an afternoon shoveling the driveway, then head on down and join the millions who do not need to spend their hard-earned money on a new snowblower or sky-high heating bills. It may not be for everyone, but it’s certainly a reason people are heading south to find out what the other side of winter feels like.

6. There Are Plenty of Educational Opportunities

Want to go back to school to earn your master’s, change careers or pick up a new trade? If you love learning and self-improvement, you’ll appreciate the educational opportunities Dallas has to offer.

There are tons of private, public and community educational institutions in the Dallas area, such as the University of Texas and Southern Methodist University. SMU ranked 61 on the U.S. News Best Colleges list and offers renowned graduate business and law programs as well as interesting undergrad programs, like trips to study anthropology in the New Mexican mountains.

Are you interested in learning an artistic skill for fun? There are a lot of non-credit courses open to the community in Dallas, too. For example, at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, you can participate in one of several inspiring workshops from creative writing to leatherworking. Or you can learn how to fuse glass or make chandelier earrings at the Craft Guild.

Does the thought of returning to any school make you cringe? You can still benefit from living in an educational-rich area. How? Wherever there are college students, there is usually tons of cultural events, affordable entertainment options and non-classroom opportunities available to the public. Plus, it can’t hurt to be surrounded by studious people.

7. You Can Check out Other Amazing Cities in a Day

Are you curious about other amazing Texan cities? Do you have the itch to be hip in Austin, rock out in Houston or take a stroll along the river in San Antonio? You don’t have to make the very difficult decision of where to move within the state. All you have to do is relocate to Dallas and explore from your home base. You can get to any of the above places in less than a five-hour drive.

If you want to check out smaller cities, you have a wide selection of those as a Dallas resident, too. Wichita Falls, Waco, College Station and Abilene can all make for fun day trips. Are you yearning for the wild sea and sandy beach? Galveston isn’t too far away, either.

Even though Dallas has everything one could ever need, sometimes the urge to explore takes over. If you live in Dallas, your sightseeing options are endless.

There’s so much to see and do in Dallas, surrounding areas and Texas as a whole, you’ll feel happy you made a move. Texas is ranked as one of the top five most bio-diverse states in the country, which means there’s a wide variety of plants and animals in Texas. From beaches to canyons, deserts to wetlands, you can pretty much find it all in this rich, fascinating state — our final reason to call Dallas home.

Smart City Makes Relocation Easy

Dallas is a great place to relocate to and has so much to offer — whether you want to launch your career, find your niche or have access to some of the greatest museums, restaurants and nightlife venues in the country.

Have we convinced you to make the move? If so, we are excited to help you take the next step. Moving into an apartment can be an overwhelming process, especially if you are going to an unfamiliar place. Our mission at Smart City Locating is to make the entire process as least headache-inducing as possible and, of course, to find you the pad of your dreams.

We’ll take all the work out of apartment hunting and locate the perfect home for you considering your needs, budget, workplace location and any other factors that are important to you. And here’s our biggest secret — our service is free. We know. You don’t have to hug us yet.

How does it work? Are we telling a tall tale? Although some of us have studied storytelling, we promise we are not making things up. Here’s how it works — you tell us your wants and needs. We find you a place you’ll love, and we get paid out of a property’s advertising budget. Everyone wins. Sounds great, right? Well, frankly, it is pretty great.

If you’re excited to be part of a city that embraces freedom, fun and opportunity, reach out to us. We can proudly say that Dallas is an excellent place to start a career and a life you’ll love. Make the smart move and start your Dallas apartment search today!