You’ve graduated and now you’re ready to strike out on your own. Where should you settle? Why not Dallas? Home to 1.3 million, Dallas is a major commercial hub and thus the best community to set up shop when looking to establish yourself in your career. Plus, you’ll be front and center to all the cultural and recreational draws Dallas has to offer.
It’s the seat of Dallas County and the third largest city in the state after San Antonio and Houston. Here are some reasons why Dallas is great for college graduates.
1. Low Cost of Living
Dallas may be a large bustling city but it’s relatively affordable for the average person – even recent grads. The cost of living score is 101, which is right on par with the national average, so it won’t cost a fortune to live here. This is great news for recent graduates who are just beginning to struggle with student loan payments coupled with entry-level jobs.
2. Sports are Everywhere
Dallas is home to all five major sports: Cowboys (football), Mavericks (basketball), Texas Rangers (baseball), FC Dallas (soccer) and Dallas Stars (hockey). You’ll also find a lot of college teams to cheer for, such as Dallas Baptist University, TCU, and Southern Methodist University. In Dallas, there’s always a game going on!
3. Home Ownership is Within Your Reach
The median home cost is $254,000 in Dallas, which is below the national average of $281,000. This means it’s easier to settle down and buy a house here compared with elsewhere, and easier to pay off that mortgage too.
4. Sunny Weather
Summer temperatures in Dallas hover in the 80s, with the winter temps dipping only to the 50s.
5. Lots of Outdoor Fitness Options
It’s easy to stay fit in Dallas, what with all the natural attractions around the local area. In fact, you’ll find 21,000 acres of parkland, more than 400 parks, 17 lakes and more than 60 miles of jogging and biking trails.
6. Strong Job Market
Naturally, as a college graduate, you’ll be looking for a job. Luckily, Dallas has a strong job market. The unemployment rate is 6.4 percent (normal for such a large city), which is about the same as the state average. Many new and established businesses call Dallas home, making it a hub of thriving commercial options.
7. Dallas Loves Big Business
Starting a career in Dallas is easy when you consider the diversity of the local economy, rooted in farming, with recent expansion into industries such as government defense, communications, aircraft manufacturing, technology and finance. A few of the Fortune 500 companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area include Exxon Mobil, McKesson and AT&T.
8. Nightlife is Hopping
If you love to get out at night, you will love the nightlife in Dallas. The party scene is notable here, with an eclectic mix of dive bars, martini bars, pubs and local restaurants, particularly in the Downtown District and the high-end Uptown District. The Victory Park complex has 75 acres of bars, shops, restaurants, and sporting events.
9. It’s Easy to Mingle
About a quarter of the local Dallas population is considered “young adult,” with more than 60 percent of the locals being unmarried. Looking to mingle with other singles? It’s just easier here. Plus, it’s an educated city, with more than 30 percent of residents holding a bachelor’s degree and 10 percent holding a master’s.
10. You Don’t Have to Drive Everywhere
The average commute time here is 25 minutes, and most of that will be on easily-navigable freeways and highways. You’ll need a car to live here (after all, it’s not New York City!) but you also have lots of options when it comes to public transportation. Plus, the city itself is very walkable compared with other major cities of its kind. You can choose from light rails, the trolley system, buses, and bike paths if you don’t want to take your car to work.
11. The State Fair is Here
Every September/October, the State Fair of Texas comes to town, attracting three million excited fairgoers every year. It runs for 24 days, and this is a fun Dallas event you don’t want to miss. It’s chock full of livestock shows, deep-fried food, cowboy hats, games, events and music.
12. The Food
Need we say more? The cuisine in Dallas is top notch, with more restaurants per capita than even New York City! You will never be at a loss to find something that pleases your palate here. Local faves include Dallas’ famous barbecue and Tex-Mex. You can wash it all down with their amazing margaritas.
13. Mardi Gras Texas Style
The “Mardi Gras Texas Style” street festival is a unique cultural event in Dallas you can’t miss. It’s an annual event that goes on in Fair Park, bringing 10,000 partiers here each year. You can enjoy country concerts, amazing costumes and plenty of spicy Cajun food. Who says you have to travel to New Orleans to experience the flare and fame of Mardi Gras?
14. Live Music Rocks
If you love music, you’re in luck. From local bands at dive bars to large national acts at stadiums, you’ll never be at a loss for where to listen to music in Dallas. The Deep Ellum Central Track area is known for getting bands their start in the music business.
15. Lots of Culture
Explore your artsy side in Dallas, thanks to the many events taking place throughout the year within the local art communities as well as international art communities. From the USA Film Festival to the CityArts Festival, you will find it very easy to stay cultured here in Dallas.
As you can see, Dallas is the perfect place for recent college grads to settle down!
Contact Olde World Movers
Are you a recent college grad looking to book your move to Dallas? We can help. Just contact us for a free quote to get you started; we’ll handle the rest.
