Dallas, Texas: What Are the Streets of the Big D?

Any time you wondered what it is that makes Dallas swing? Weather is the subject of this article, from the very hot Dallas summers to the quite cool cultural areas. However, Dallas is not only cowboy hats and oil wells, but also the actual big thing if you are planning a trip or maybe looking to reside there; if you are clueless about this Texas metropolis, keep the reading as I am here to provide you with the best guide to Hometown.

What Is the Dallas Weather Like? (Hint: It Is Very Hot)

Lets get into the climate first because it is somehow the important thing here. Usually, the majority of the inhabitants of Dallas refer to it as “three seasons”: hot, hotter, and “oh my god, am I melting?”
Summer in Dallas, well…. it is pretty brutal. In this case, imagine that someone is keeping the sauna switched on for too long. The weather in Dallas gets really crazy with temperatures regularly reaching 95-100°F in July and August, and with humidity, it is as if you were wearing a wet sweater. Not exactly a walk in the park!
Winter is the most uncertain period of the year. The weather changes so much that it might be 70°F one day, sunny and 30°F the other day with sleet. Snow is an anomaly here, 1-2 inches is the most we will get, but wherever it happens, the town is closed
Both spring and fall emerge as the best times of the year where the weather is very moderate and it is comfortable to spend the evening on the terrace as the temperature fluctuates between 70 and 80 degrees. This is the time of the year that everyone is in denial of because of the brevity of the two-weather time zones.
Information contained in Weather Underground suggests that Dallas has about 39 inches of rainfall a year. This is mostly in the spring season and fall. In May, it is quite damp and early summer, so taking an umbrella when going there becomes necessary. May is, by the way, the peak season of rainfall in Dallas.

Dallas in a Nutshell: Whirlwind Facts

So, to start, the basics are:

• Time Zone: Central Time (CT)
• Area Codes: 214, 469, 972, 682
• Population: About 1.3 million in the city, 7.5 million in the metro area
• Elevation: 430-550 feet above sea level
• Nickname: Big D (though locals rarely use it unironically)
• Airport Codes: DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth International) and DAL (Dallas Love Field)

What Are the Exact Coordinates of Dallas? (Plus You Have to Know Those Zip Codes)

Dallas lies in North Texas about 245 miles away from Houston, 195 miles from Austin, and 250 miles from San Antonio by road.
The zip codes for the city are from 75201 to 75398, with downtown Dallas mainly being in zip codes 75201 and 75202. If you’re in the market for a new home, here are the popular neighborhoods with some zip code information:

• Uptown: 75201, 75204
• Downtown: 75201, 75202
• Oak Cliff: 75208, 75211
• Deep Ellum: 75226
• Preston Hollow: 75220, 75225
• Lake Highlands: 75238
• North Dallas: 75230, 75240

Is Dallas a Safe City? Let’s Be Honest

Just like any other big city, giving a definite answer to the question of the safety gets a “maybe” and not a “yes” or “no”. On the whole, the crime rate in Dallas is higher than the national average, but this data should be modified by one important factor.
The northern area including Preston Hollow, Lakewood, and Lake Highlands are quite safe neighborhoods compared to the South and West Dallas. Additionally, Downtown and Deep Ellum have relatively low crime rates by day and the early evening hours, but you need to be extra cautious as the night wwwenp://wwwenpedia01.com/https://wwwenp://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd” class=”xml” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml”>gets darker.
I have lived here for a long time and I can tell you that I have never felt unsafe walking around Uptown and Knox-Henderson during the daytime. However, like any city, you have to be watchful of your surroundings. Do not walk into dark and unfamiliar places at 2 AM without taking your eyes off your phone and you will probably not have any problems along the way.

What about Dallas Sanctuary City Status?

This is a very complicated subject. On the face of it, Dallas is not considered to be a sanctuary city. Texas SB4 of 2017 proclaimed that no township within this state would be able to pass a law to protect illegal immigrants from persecution, and so far, this law is active. Still, the real practice of immigration control varies according to the resident municipality.

What Can We Do in Dallas that Isn’t Just Cowboys and BBQ?

Dallas has a vast choice of things to do minus the horseback riding and brisket eating leg. (Although, you should certainly try the brisket here.)

For People Interested in Arts and Culture

The Dallas Museum of Art (where the general admission is free of charge!) and the Nasher Sculpture Center are some of the best on the planet. The Crow Museum of Asian Art is still a hidden gem.
Check out the African American Museum in Fair Park. It is the only museum in the Southwest that is devoted to the visual arts of black people, their culture, and other aspects of their history. One of the most attractive features they have so far is their folk art collection.

For Couples

• A walk around White Rock Lake around sunset
• Share a dinner at one of the cozy Bishop Arts District restaurants
• Visit the Winspear Opera House to watch a play or musical
• Go to a rooftop bar with views like the Gallery Rooftop Lounge and have a drink
• Enjoy the Dallas Arboretum (the best time is in spring when all the blossoms are in full swing)

For Families

Both the Dallas Zoo and the Dallas World Aquarium are perfect for young visitors. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science fascinates both kids and their parents through all the interactive displays.
If you are looking for a place to go for a thrill, you can visit Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington which is not far from the city. It is a place tempting enough for an amusement park.

For Food Lovers

Dallas, in recent years, has become a city of food lovers. Besides stellar Tex-Mex and BBQ, you can have an abundance of choices from Ethiopian and Venezuelan cuisines.
It’s amazing that there are various gluten-free restaurants in Dallas, where Gluten-free travelers can choose from. Along with the popular chains of HG Sply Co. and True Food Kitchen, local establishments like Company Cafe and Spiral Diner (vegan) are proving good gluten-free options.

Getting Around: Dallas Transportation

Most likely, you will need a car in Dallas. There is public transportation, but it still has many flaws.
With the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit), you can get to the suburbs without any problems. The buses, and the light rail that DART has, can be used to reach the city from the outskirts but you must be ready to walk a little.
Besides regular taxis, other modes of transportation include such services like Uber or Lyft and scooters which can be found for rent especially in the downtown part of the city.
This is good news. The city of Dallas has put a significant amount of money into its highways. But the bad news is everyone else has been doing the same, resulting in some pretty lengthy traffic, especially during rush hour on I-35 and Central Expressway.

Dallas vs. Other Texas Cities: How Far Away Is…?

• Dallas to Houston: Aproximately 240 miles (3.5-4 hour drive)
• Dallas to Austin: About 195 miles (3-3.5 hour drive)
• Dallas to San Antonio: Approximately 270 miles (4-4.5 hour drive)
• Dallas to Arlington: Aproximately 20 (30 minutes without traffic)
• Dallas to Fort Worth: Aproximately 30 miles (40 minutes without traffic)
• Dallas to Oklahoma City: Some 200 miles (3-3.5 hour drive)
• Dallas to Phoenix, Arizona: About 1,065 miles (15-16 hour drive or a 2.5 hour flight)
• Dallas to New York: Approximately 1,550 miles (a 3.5-hour flight)

Living in Dallas: Housing, Jobs, and More

Housing Market

In Dallas, the real estate market is still a sellers’ market, with the following conditions prevailing as of 2024:

• Median Home Price: In the range of $350,000-400,000
• Average Rent for 1-Bedroom: It can cost $1,200-1,600 depending on the area
• Uptown Apartments: They will be priced at only $1,500-2,500 for luxury high-rises
• High-Rise Apartments: The cost for a brand new building will be approximately $1,800
  You are most likely to find houses for sale at Zillow and through local realtors, whereas for apartment rentals, apartments.com and the property agencies’ sites are the best sources of information.

Job Market

Dallas, as a business center, has a vibrant job market with which the following industries are closely associated:

• Technology and telecommunications
• Healthcare (several major hospital systems)
• Financial services
• Professional services
• Transportation and logistics
  Major employers include Texas Instruments, AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and numerous healthcare systems like Baylor Scott & White.
  Available government positions are advertised on the city’s official page, while the Dallas Housing Authority is responsible for administered housing programs in Dallas.

Dallas History & Culture: More Than JFK and Cowboys

Most folks certainly pinpoint just two things when asked about Dallas’s renown – the JFK assassination and the Cowboys football team. Yet, there is so much that our history offers besides.
At the time John Neely Bryan founded the city back in 1841, it was a trading post. Later, the city became one of the biggest commercial centers after the implementation of the railroads in the 1870s.
The early 20th-century oil rush led to wealth, and the city’s signature skyline including inside the Reunion Tower, which is our illuminated ball on a stick, developed gradually.
It is, by all means, true that President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed here in 1963, and if you want to learn about this terrible occasion, you can visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. The area near the “grassy knoll” is still of interest to those who are passionate about history.

Dallas Neighborhoods: Each With Its Own Vibe

• Downtown: Business part of the city that is also growing as a residential area
• Uptown: Young professionals, crowded nightlife, high-end flats
• Deep Ellum: Artsy, dirty, tattoo and live music districts
• Bishop Arts: A place where you can find almost anything in those fashion-forward boutiques and eat at those chic eateries
• Oak Cliff: A multicultural place with a history that has been recently rejuvenated
• Preston Hollow: High-income neighborhood, with big houses and a place where a lot of movie stars live
• Lake Highlands: A friendly neighborhood for raising a family with a nice school system
• Harry Hines area: Place of various business enterprises wih international supermarkets

Best Suburbs of Dallas (If City Living Isn’t Your Thing)

City life is not for everyone. In case you are looking for the best Dallas suburbs, which are some of them?

• Plano: It is a perfect choice if you are looking for a residential area with good local schools, co-working spaces designed for start-ups, or family activities
• Frisco: City with the fastest population growth that probably had new housing projects just started and brand new sports facilities
• McKinney: A place with a history of many years and affordable housing
• Highland Park: Neighborhood where only “the most sophisticated” persons live within Dallas
• Southlake: An area where most people are wealthy with children at school, and the schools are of the highest quality
• Richardson: Known as a tech center, with lots of foreign people and a good cost to life ratio

Educational Options in Dallas

Dallas, as far as school options are considered, boasts of several outstanding districts as a signee. There are, however, wide swings in the quality between districts. Areas of Dallas are mostly served by the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), though there are a few districts that serve only a small part of the city.
Particularly good in the list of elementary schools are Solar Preparatory School for Girls and Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy.
When it comes to senior high schools, the School for the Talented and Gifted and Science and Engineering Magnet are always ranked among the top schools nationwide.

Practical Information for Visitors and Residents

Airports

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): A major airport in terms of the number of passengers it serves, and also serves most major airlines
• Dallas Love Field (DAL): A much smaller airport, near the downtown area, that mainly provides services to Southwest Airlines

DMVs

In Texas, vehicle registration and driver’s license services are taken care of by different offices:

• Driver’s licenses: The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Vehicle registration: County Tax Assessor-Collector offices

Shopping

• NorthPark Center: Top of the line and posh shopping mall
• Galleria Dallas: A three-floor shopping spree of three floors with an ice-skating rink
• Allen Premium Outlets: Primarily for the more economical shopper
• Highland Park Village: High class, open-air shopping center
• Antique stores in the Design District and Bishop Arts

Health Care

According to the experts, Dallas is a big healthcare provider with the following as the major players:

• Baylor Scott & White
• UT Southwestern
• Texas Health Resources
• Parkland (public hospital)
• Children’s Medical Center

Natural Disasters: Yes, We Have Tornadoes

Dallas is on the southern end of “Tornado Alley” where the state of Texas gets most of its tornado activity. Spring usually gives a lot of severe thunderstorms and every once in a while tornadoes that are really damaging. The last big tornado in North Dallas was in 2019 and it did a lot of damage.
Massive rainfall can lead to flash flooding, and the temperature can reach up to 100°F for days or weeks during summer months, which may result in heat waves.

Local Tips from a Dallas Resident

• Autumn is the best time to visit the State Fair of Texas
• Stay away from the road between 7-9 AM and 4-6:30 PM as that is the time when the traffic is heavy
• Don’t mention “Dallas is just a Fort Worth with big letter testing” because there are big letter testing less.
• The greeting is the “Dallas wave” when driving the car–just a little wave of the hand from the steering wheel and that’s all.
• Wear a thin jacket even during the summer season because the air conditioning chilling effect is just like the Arctic
• Have a cup of tea is, in a way, a holy ritual and waiting for tables at a hip place is part of that experience
• Splendid are the evening summer shows at the Dallas Arboretum accompanied with the open-air atmosphere

FAQs About Dallas

Q: When should I visit Dallas to get the most authentic experience?
A: Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are the best time to visit due to perfect weather conditions. If the muggy, supersharp weather is not your trip destine, then consider skipping August.
Q: How does the cost of living in Dallas compare to other cities?
A: Comparisons show that it’s not as expensive as the most popular tourist cities on the coasts but it has become increasingly overpriced. The souring real estate prices are the primary cause for such high costs, though they still remain under those of New York, San Francisco, or even Austin.
Q: Can I get along without a car in Dallas?
A: In fact, most definitely yes. Hot areas like the Uptown, Downtown, and a few others are the exceptions where you do not absolutely need it. In other words, ignore public transportation systems if you seek an efficient means of reaching even developing regions.
Q: How do you distinguish Dallas from Ft. Worth?
A: Despite their geographical closeness, they are two quite different towns. Dallas is a sleek, urban area teeming with busy people, businesses, and modern architecture, while Fort Worth is proud of its “where the West begins” cowboy heritage. You can make the best of your time by having a taste of both worlds!
Q: Is Dallas diverse?
A: Yes, Dallas is very diverse. The city has a large Hispanic, Black, Asian, and international population, which all participate in vibrant cultural and culinary life

Final Thoughts on Dallas

Dallas, however, is a city with a lot of paradoxes. The city has a Southern charm on the one hand and big business on the other, as well as cowboy heritage and cutting-edge arts, besides sprawling suburbs, and dynamic urban cores. It has its flaws, like the traffic alone which is a nightmare, but it still can be a place providing a high quality of life that attracts people from all over the country.
If you are a person who is visiting or considering Dallas as a place to live, go there with an open mind. The stereotypes only show a small part of what this city offers as it is complex and still changing.
And you? Have you been to Dallas before, or are you planning to move there? What aspects of the Big D excite you the most? Share your comment with us below—Open for discussion?