Thinking about moving to Dallas from Chicago

Armueller2001 · #1 10-07-2009, 08:07 AM

Well I've had it with Chicago, I'd like to move somewhere with less traffic, less taxes, lower cost of living, and milder winters.

I'm thinking about applying for a position I found online that would be 1.25-1.5x what I'm currently making living in Chicago.

Can anyone tell me some pros/cons of living in Dallas, TX?

Phalex · #2 10-07-2009, 08:09 AM

Pros: February

Cons: August

Stampy · #3 10-07-2009, 08:13 AM

Wouldn't Dallas have more traffic im assuming in the downtown area? But if you are going to be making more money I would go for it.

Armueller2001 · #4 10-07-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stampy

Wouldn't Dallas have more traffic im assuming in the downtown area? But if you are going to be making more money I would go for it.

I checked Google maps traffic at 8am and 5pm in the Dallas area and it looks like nothing compared to Chicago at those times. My job will not be IN Dallas, so I can live on the perimeter of the city closest to where I'll be working and not have to pass through.

Armueller2001 · #5 10-07-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

Pros: February

Cons: August

Fine with me. I'd rather sweat a little than have the wind cutting through to my bones.

()smoke() · #6 10-07-2009, 08:21 AM

dallas traffic...our highways leading into downtown are the best-engineered parking lots on the planet.

Phalex · #7 10-07-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

Fine with me. I'd rather sweat a little than have the wind cutting through to my bones.

A friend of mine moved down there a few years ago. The thing that amazed him most was that it was still over 100 degrees at 3:00am.

SoonerMatt · #8 10-07-2009, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

dallas traffic...our highways leading into downtown are the best-engineered parking lots on the planet.

QFT. Having driven through Dallas countless times I can attest to this. Downtown Dallas is a gigantic concrete labyrinth.

Also, nobody lives "in" Dallas. You'll be living in Plano, Arlington, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Lewisville, or one of the many other surrounding areas I can't remember atm.

Armueller2001 · #9 10-07-2009, 08:53 AM

I was talking to my mom about moving down there, and she said I'd have to deal with the "southern mentality" and "redneck mentality".

Fine with me. If my mortgage payments are cut in half I could care less what people's "mentalities" are.

Dr. Cheese · #10 10-07-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

I was talking to my mom about moving down there, and she said I'd have to deal with the "southern mentality" and "redneck mentality".

Fine with me. If my mortgage payments are cut in half I could care less what people's "mentalities" are.

Hell, you are from Carbondale. You are already in the South culturally. Geographically, you are parallel to mid Virginia also.

Dallas is a really nice area, and the GC on the Northside is unreal! It is seriously better stocked than some boutique shops I have visited.

**baba** · #11 10-07-2009, 09:00 AM

Pros: cheap to live
Cons: hot and boring

WRBass · #12 10-07-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

I was talking to my mom about moving down there, and she said I'd have to deal with the "southern mentality" and "redneck mentality".

Fine with me. If my mortgage payments are cut in half I could care less what people's "mentalities" are.

A large percentage of people in Dallas are from somewhere else. I wouldn't worry so much about the "southern mentality" and "redneck mentality". "Southern mentality" is not a bad thing. And I guess it's all about how you define "redneck mentality".

chicago_mike · #13 10-07-2009, 09:36 AM

youre leaving in just the nick of time. License renewals are 30 bucks after this week, up from 10. $95 for titles ...blah blah blah....im getting out of here soon too.

Holy War · #14 10-07-2009, 09:56 AM

Dallas is a great town. Lots of night life, great music scene, within driving distance of Houston, Austin, San Antonio etc. The women down there are just BEAUTIFUL, the people are extremely nice, and there is tons of good eating. Plus if youre into sports, you have Basketball, Hockey, and Football.

Dont let it being in Texas fool you, winters in Dallas can get downright cold. Yes summers can be hot, but its a dry heat that doesnt really get to you like the humidity heat on the east coast does. Cost of living is extremely low and everything is SPREAD OUT in the burbs. For your crappy little flat in Chicago, you could have a home with about an acre of land in somewhere like Plano.

I love Dallas

IconBasser · #15 10-07-2009, 10:32 AM

I'd say go for it, Armueller. Sounds like there aren't any downsides compared to where you're at now.

Valerus · #16 10-07-2009, 11:00 AM

Come to Texas! But not Southeast Texas. For the love of God never go there. Dallas is south enough.

iammr2 · #17 10-07-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

Pros: February

Cons: August

Or:

Pros: August

Cons: February

Quote:

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

dallas traffic...our highways leading into downtown are the best-engineered parking lots on the planet.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

A friend of mine moved down there a few years ago. The thing that amazed him most was that it was still over 100 degrees at 3:00am.

That's a bit exagerated. But it can still be quite warm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

Also, nobody lives "in" Dallas. You'll be living in Plano, Arlington, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Lewisville, or one of the many other surrounding areas I can't remember atm.

Lots of people live "in" Dallas. Uptown has lots of 25-35 singles, clubs, shopping. Matter of fact, most of the area around Central Expwy north of downtown has lots of growth and revitalization. Downtown growth is slow, but steady.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

I was talking to my mom about moving down there, and she said I'd have to deal with the "southern mentality" and "redneck mentality".

Mom is wise. Listen to her. But don't forget, a lot of "southern" or "redneck" mentality is based on respect, manners, and friendliness. You won't see much of this living in town but it's getting better. There aren't many native Texans in Dallas anymore. It's mostly yankees. As you get out into the burbs, it gets a bit friendlier. As you get out into the country and away from the city, manners and a smile will rule the day. Anyone will walk up and start a conversation with you. If anyone walks up and starts talking to you in downtown, you can expect them to hit you up for money. So basically, the farther away from the city, the friendlier the people. The hardest people to deal with are the snooty irresponsible ones that think they are high class just because they live in Dallas. These are the worst. "Outta my way, I'm a busy person". I think all cities have these though.

So Mom is right. Culturally it's a little bit different. But those of us that are natives feel the same way about dealing with "northern" mentalities.

C'mon down!

iammr2 · #18 10-07-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

Come to Texas! But not Southeast Texas. For the love of God never go there. Dallas is south enough.

If you don't like it, why are you there?

fishtx · #19 10-07-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

I was talking to my mom about moving down there, and she said I'd have to deal with the "southern mentality" and "redneck mentality".

Fine with me. If my mortgage payments are cut in half I could care less what people's "mentalities" are.

Having lived in Chicago and now in Dallas, I can attest that there are just as many "mentalities" in Illinois as there are in Texas...

Dallas is a fun town, and once you have the hiway system figured out, it's not so hard to get around in...

It is hot down here in the summer, and can get cold in the winter, but typically these cold spells only last a couple of days or so...

There are amazing restaurants in Dallas, and the night life is good.

As far as cheaper taxes go, there is no state income tax in Texas, but property taxes here are through the roof...so they get you one way or another.

And one thing at sucks about Dallas, is there are "basicaly" no good mom and pop music stores here anymore...Guitar Center is all over...I miss Larry Morgan's...

Armueller2001 · #20 10-07-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy War

The women down there are just BEAUTIFUL, the people are extremely nice, and there is tons of good eating. Plus if youre into sports, you have Basketball, Hockey, and Football.

Are there quite a bit of good looking latin women in Dallas?