Destination Dallas: Your Guide to Relocating to the DFW Metroplex

Will your next move take you to Dallas, Texas? Allow All My Sons Moving & Storage to be your guide to this thriving metroplex in the heart of North Texas.

Dallas and its twin city Fort Worth sit about 30 miles apart, which is roughly a 45 minute drive on Interstate-30 in great traffic conditions. Together, the two cities are colloquially known as the DFW Metroplex. With a population of 1.3 million, Dallas is the larger city, but Fort Worth isn’t far behind having surpassed the million mark in 2024. 

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is home to over 200 distinct cities and towns. It spans 11 counties, the largest of which are Collin County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, and Denton County. The U.S. Census Bureau clocked the population of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area as surpassing 8 million residents between 2022 and 2023. 

With no state income tax and no local income taxes, professionals moving to Dallas can get a little bit more of their paycheck in their pocket. Homeowners in Dallas even enjoy a declining property tax rate, though property taxes will vary by local taxing unit. 

Maybe you’ve got a job offer from one of the red-hot Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Dallas like AT&T, Texas Instruments, or Southwest Airlines. Perhaps you want to get more for your dollar and enjoy a 23% lower cost of living than New York City. Whatever your reason for coming to Dallas, All My Sons would be honored to help you get settled in.

Dallas is a great place to live if you love summer heat and dislike winter snows. The hottest month of the year tends to be August and the coldest tends to be January.

Summers are hot, with an average high temperature of 96 °F. Days with over 100 °F heat are not uncommon in July and August. Watch out for tornados during the spring, as Dallas is in Tornado Alley. 

Want a white Christmas? While not impossible, it’s not likely in Dallas. The last Christmas that saw at least an inch of snow on the ground in Dallas was 2012. Living in Dallas, you’re much more likely to see snow in late January or February, but only about 1.7 inches of snow per season. 

Safe to say, if you’re moving from the north, you can probably sell your snowplow, snow shovel, and heavy winter clothes. You won’t get much use out of them in Dallas.

If you’re moving from a metro-area with an extensive public transportation system, then your move to Dallas might be the time to buy a car. 

The DFW Metroplex is served by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, which operates almost 100 bus routes and 93 miles of light rail systems, but most commuters will tell you it is still easier to get around by car.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the average commute time in Dallas is 22.82 minutes, which is about 0.8 minutes higher than the national average. 

If you’ll be traveling on toll roads during your commute (Such as the Dallas North Tollway, the President George Bush Turnpike, and the Sam Rayburn Tollway), you can get a TollTag from the North Texas Tollway Authority and get the lowest toll rates.

Making your move for college or have teenagers almost ready to fly from the nest? Dallas has over 70 accredited higher education institutions and is ranked as the #1 region in Texas for higher education. 

Here are some of the most prominent colleges and universities you find in the Dallas area.

• Southern Methodist University: A private research university in University Park, TX founded in 1911. Roughly 7,500 undergraduate students attended in the fall of 2025. The university is well-respected in Texas, and ranked #1 in Dallas by U.S. News and World Report. 

• University of Texas at Dallas: Located in Richardson, TX, this public university was founded in 1961 by Texas Instruments. Roughly 30,000 students enrolled in fall 2024, and they come from more than 110 countries. 

• University of Texas at Arlington: Public research university in Arlington, TX originally founded in 1895. With over 40,000 students, it is the second largest university in the UT System.

• University of North Texas at Dallas: Public university located in Dallas with roughly 3,000 undergraduate students. Founded in 2000 and part of the University of North Texas System.

• Collin College: A public community college district with campuses in McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Wylie, Farmersville, and Celina. Residents of Collin County pay roughly $65 per credit hour to attend

• Dallas College: In 2020, seven independently accredited community colleges united under one name and became one of the largest community college systems in Texas. Those seven schools remain Dallas College’s primary campuses, and they serve Farmer’s Branch, Carrollton, Addison, Mesquite, Garland, Irving, and Dallas.

For those students looking to the other side of the metroplex, other notable schools include Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, the University of North Texas in Denton, and Texas Women’s University in Denton. 

Dallas has the largest arts district in the country with 68 total acres supporting fine art, music, and live performances. 

• Dallas Museum of Art: Located in Downtown Dallas just a skip away from Klyde Warren Park, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) offers dynamic and diverse art exhibits plus events that support the arts year-round. 

• Nasher Sculpture Center: Next door to the DMA, the Nasher Sculpture Center showcases the Patsy and Raymond Nasher collection.

• Winspear Opera House: This live performance venue seats 2,200 and is home to the Dallas Opera. 

• Meyerson Symphony Center: Home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Meyerson, as it is called by locals, is a premier concert venue. 

• Music Hall at Fair Park: Broadway lovers in Dallas can catch all the famous productions at this performing arts theater in Fair Park, just two miles east of the DMA.

Looking for a date night idea in Dallas or want to spend the weekend seeing the sights with your family? Dallas is full of incredible attractions that draw locals and tourists out to adventure. Here are some of the most famous.

• Dallas Zoo: Enjoy over 2,000 animals across 106 acres just three miles south of Downtown Dallas. Twice a year, the zoo runs a “Dollar Day” promotion, where individuals can gain admission for just $1. Families looking to have some summer fun at the zoo can take the DART Red Line train right to the zoo’s doorstep.

• Dallas World Aquarium: This incredible zoo and aquarium sits on Griffin Street in the Historic West End District of Downtown Dallas. Featured exhibits include an artificial rainforest canopy with primates and a 400,000 gallon tunnel tank with sharks.

• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: This award-winning botanical garden is the perfect space for a day-date or portrait photography session. Celebrate Spring at the Dallas Blooms and enjoy 150 flowering cherry trees and a half a million tulips. Individual memberships start at just $115 for unlimited daytime entry and complimentary parking for up to two people. 

• Reunion Tower: Take in panoramic views of Dallas from 470 feet up. This iconic tower is a staple of the Dallas skyline, and a top destination for events.

• Klyde Warren Park: A 5.4 acre public park in Downtown Dallas with fun activities and events happening year-round.

• Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza: Museum dedicated to the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy, who was shot in Downtown Dallas in 1963.

Sports fans relocating to Dallas can enjoy rooting for their new home team. Dallas has famous professional teams in all major leagues.

• Dallas Cowboys (NFL): The first football team to be valued at $5 billion, the Dallas Cowboys are one of the most recognized and celebrated sports teams in the world. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys. As the proud official movers of the Dallas Cowboys, All My Sons Moving & Storage handles all the relocation needs of our home team.

• Dallas Mavericks (NBA): Often called the Mavs, the Dallas Mavericks play their home games at the American Airlines Center in Dallas’s Victory Park neighborhood. The Dallas Mavericks have won one NBA championship, in 2011.

• Dallas Stars (NHL): Known as the Minnesota North Stars until 1993, the Dallas Stars have appeared in the Stanley Cup Final five times, winning in 1999. The Dallas Stars also play at the American Airlines Center in Dallas's Victory Park neighborhood.

• Texas Rangers (MLB): Founded in 1961 as the Washington Senators, this baseball team relocated to Texas and debuted as the Texas Rangers in 1972. In 2023, the Texas Rangers won the World Series. The home base of the Texas Rangers is Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.

If you’re looking for a space to settle in Dallas proper, you’ll find a plethora of options available. You can embrace urban living in the heart of the city or take it slow in a family-friendly neighborhood. 

• Downtown Dallas: Get close to the action and be within walking distance of Dealey Plaza, the Arts District, and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Get brunch at The Henry or Little Daisy, and enjoy the nightlife at the Midnight Rambler or The Crafty Irishman pub. 

• Uptown Dallas: Nestled north of Downtown Dallas, Uptown connects the heart of the city to the northern suburbs. Outdoorsy residents of Uptown can appreciate the Katy Trail as well as green spaces like Griggs Park, and then wind down with a cocktail at Parliament. 

• Bishop Arts District: This neighborhood in Oak Cliff is an extremely walkable destination to find local businesses. Pick up a book and a drink at The Wild Detectives bookstore and bar, get an upscale dinner at Paradiso, or find gifts at the Bishop Street Market.

• Lower Greenville: A great neighborhood area for young professionals, Lower Greenville offers a plethora of nightlife activities for the thousands of residents kicking back in Craftsmen-style townhomes. Grab pizza at the Greenville Avenue Pizza Company or a cocktail at Alamo Club, and enjoy a laugh at Four Day Weekend Comedy.

• Deep Ellum: A historic neighborhood that is the happening place for Dallas nightlife including live music, bars, local shops, and art galleries. Celebrate at Club Dada, get BBQ at Pecan Lodge, or find your next read at Deep Vellum an independent bookstore and storefront for Deep Vellum Books & Publishing. 

Looking for the ideal location to lay down roots, raise a family, and enjoy laid-back suburban living close to all your big-city amenities in Dallas? Homebuyers should look into these Dallas suburbs to get the best of both worlds. 

• Plano: With a population of closing in on 300,000, Plano is the largest city in Collin County. Located just 20 miles north of Dallas and full of beautiful neighborhoods like Willow Bend, Deerfield, and Normandy Estates, there’s plenty to do and see just in Plano, TX. Walk along Historic Downtown Plano, shop and dine at Legacy West, or enjoy the scenic views at the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.

• Arlington: Almost directly between Fort Worth and Dallas, Arlington is home to the original Six Flags Over Texas, AT&T Stadium, the Globe Life Field, and Choctaw Stadium. Settle in the master-planned community of Viridian or enjoy the walkable Downtown Arlington area.

• Frisco: About 30 miles north of Dallas, the lively city of Frisco is home to about 240,000 residents and climbing. Settle into a gated community in Stonebriar, enjoy the walkable Rail District, and visit unique attractions like the National Videogame Museum. 

• McKinney: Located about 33 miles northeast of Dallas, the city of McKinney is the county seat of Collin County. Settle in Stonebridge Ranch, walk Historic Downtown McKinney, or plan your events in Adriatica Village. 

• Irving: About 15 miles northwest of Dallas, Irving boasts a population of about 258,000 and climbing. Live in Las Colinas, Valley Ranch, or Irving Heights to experience all that Irving has to offer. Walk along the Mandalay Canal, catch a concert at the Toyota Music Factory, or visit a museum in the Heritage Crossing District.

Allow All My Sons Moving & Storage to be the first to welcome you to the DFW Metroplex, whether you’re moving into an urban oasis deep in the heart of Downtown Dallas or a sprawling estate in Highland Park. All My Sons Moving & Storage has deep roots in the DFW Metroplex, and we’ve been helping companies and families make a seamless relocation across Dallas and across the nation for over 30 years. 

Give our team of licensed and insured professional movers in Texas a call, and we’ll create a personalized moving plan that adapts to your needs and budget.