Oak Point is part of the Dallas area. This page covers the whole metro.
How locals describe Dallas
The words residents use most, from 84 comments on Reddit, City-Data and Quora. Bigger means more people said it. Tap a word to read what they said.
"Dallas just doesn't have a classic vibe, very few places have true charm."
"It's the beginning of October and it's still in the 90s."
Big-city feel, Growing
Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Dallas scores 70 or higher out of 100.
Less so: artsy, lively, historic.
A walk through Dallas
Places residents talk about, in their words. Each photo is of the place named.
Look around Dallas
Google Street View near the center of town, taken 2019-01. Drag to turn, click the street to move.
Open in Google MapsPhotos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
What Dallas is known for
Every year
AprDeep Ellum Arts Festival: live music and arts booths festivaltourtexas.com
JunDallas Pride: pride celebration that moved to June in 2019visitdallas.com
SepState Fair of Texas: large annual fair held at Fair Parktexastimetravel.com
Busiest time
Summer: peak tourist season with higher hotel priceslonelyplanet.com
On a normal week
Visiting the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardenen.wikipedia.org
Walking along the Trinity River trailsen.wikipedia.org
Around Dallas
Take a tour of Dallas
"Exploring Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas USA Walking Tour #dealeyplaza #dallas #dallastexas #texas" by Exploration To Go, on YouTube. Not made by Varro.
One resident praised the Dallas Museum of Art, Perot Museum, and Kessler Theater, noting it is free to the public.
“Dallas Museum of Art, Perot and museum of art are great. The Kessler Theater in Dallas, Texas. Free to the public. Their indoor gallery is also...”
Read the full commentPosted Jan. 2025One resident noted that Dallas salaries appear higher than Utah's and that the cost of living in Texas remains favorable.
“The pay is $107k/year. I am assuming the dallas market pays more than utah. That 70k is more like 65k. Texas is definitely a good COL to be...”
Read the full commentPosted Jan. 2026One resident says the club often hosts affordable events like dance classes, board games nights and park trail walks.
“DFW Young & Social Club often hosts events. Mostly dance classes for a modest price, but they'll do board games night, park trail walks, etc as...”
Read the full commentPosted July 2025One resident says Dallas is bad for dating and making friends but that there are plenty of social hobby opportunities if you get off Reddit.
“Dallas absolutely sucks when it comes to dating and making friends. Get off of Reddit! social hobbies, There's plenty of opportunities to make...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2025One resident recommends several specific restaurants across the Dallas area including Halos Pizzeria, Rise, Spirit Grille and Bruncheon.
“Halos Pizzeria for pizza in Frisco, Rise for soufflés in Dallas, Spirit Grille for home cooking in Irving”
Posted Feb. 2025One resident recommends several parks and preserves near Dallas including Cedar Ridge Preserve, Cedar Hill State Park, and Dogwood Canyon.
“Closer to Dallas there is Cedar Ridge Preserve, Cedar Hill State Park, Dogwood Canyon.”
Posted May 2024One resident mentioned the Arboretum has a huge children's area along with a DART ride to the Dallas Zoo offering animal feeding, VR, and carousel and train rides.
“Arboretum has a huge children's area. DART ride to the Dallas Zoo”
Posted July 2025One resident says the nightlife in Dallas is a good way to meet people if you are social, mentioning drag shows.
“The night life in Dallas is definitely a way to go. If you're social you'll definitely find some peeps to hang out with.”
Posted Oct. 2025From 11 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident mentioned Dallas Summer Musicals at Fair Park, a concert at Dos Equis Pavilion, summer concerts at the Arboretum, and a show at The Majestic Theater downtown.
“Dallas Summer Musicals at Fair Park. A concert at Dos Equis Pavilion. Summer concerts at the Arboretum. A show at The Majestic Theater downtown...”
Read the full commentPosted April 2026One resident describes DFW Young and Social Club as a dedicated meetup group with its own facility for ages 21 to 40.
“DFW Young and Social club is both on Meetup and have their own website and their own facility. Their age specification is 21-40. The pics of...”
Read the full commentPosted Oct. 2024One resident says the club often hosts affordable events like dance classes, board games nights and park trail walks.
“DFW Young & Social Club often hosts events. Mostly dance classes for a modest price, but they'll do board games night, park trail walks, etc as...”
Read the full commentPosted July 2025One resident mentioned a social club that hosts many events and classes attracting people aged 25-40.
“There's a social club called DFW Young and Social that hosts a ton of events and classes. Lots of people between 25-40 attend them. The Loon...”
Read the full commentPosted July 2026One resident says Dallas is bad for dating and making friends but that there are plenty of social hobby opportunities if you get off Reddit.
“Dallas absolutely sucks when it comes to dating and making friends. Get off of Reddit! social hobbies, There's plenty of opportunities to make...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2025One resident feels dating apps lead to low quality interactions that make them feel less human
“I have tried apps and they are all full of low quality interactions. It makes you feel like you are not human, no matter what you try.”
Read the full commentPosted Nov. 2024One resident who moved from Chicago says Dallas dating has been less accessible for them personally
“I’ve noticed Dallas dating is not accessible as where I grew up (Chicago), at least for me. Nothing has changed drastically about me, actually...”
Read the full commentPosted Feb. 2024One resident has had some luck finding someone through dating apps and knows others who met their significant other that way
“I've known a few people who met their significant other on dating apps, I've used them in the past and have had some luck in finding someone.”
Read the full commentPosted Oct. 2025One resident recommended using Hinge and Bumble for something longer term, with Tinder and Feeld as other options, along with the Geneva app and various groups
“Tinder, Bumble and Hinge. Try the Geneva app. Lots of groups. Hinge and Bumble will be your best bet for something longer term, Tinder/Feeld...”
Read the full commentPosted Nov. 2023One resident says the nightlife in Dallas is a good way to meet people if you are social, mentioning drag shows.
“The night life in Dallas is definitely a way to go. If you're social you'll definitely find some peeps to hang out with. :) Edit: drag shows...”
Read the full commentPosted Oct. 2025One resident says Meddlesome Moth is a gastropub and beer bar with a great beer selection, and calls Peticolas the best brewery in Dallas.
“Meddlesome Moth is a gastropub/beer bar that has a great selection of beers across all styles. Peticolas is the best brewery in Dallas. They...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2022. Things may have changed since.One resident wants to be more social and start dating, and is considering trying a nightclub since apps have not worked well.
“I’d like to attempt being more social, and hopefully start dating. I’ve tried using apps but it’s not working out the greatest. I think a nightclub...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2021. Things may have changed since.One resident said Dallas is functional and has everything needed daily, but is no Chicago.
“TLDR: Dallas is a functional place to live. Everything you need on a daily basis is here. But it's no Chicago. On the other hand, move here and...”
Read the full commentPosted Jan. 2025One resident noted Dallas has better job opportunities than Seattle due to proximity to Houston and Austin, but found the landscape boring and flat.
“Job opportunity is still better than Seattle due to proximity to Houston/Austin and larger population. Dallas landscape is boring and flat. it...”
Read the full commentPosted Aug. 2025One resident finds Dallas lonely and individualistic, making it hard to form genuine connections.
“The one thing I really hate about Dallas is how lonely and individualistic this city can be. It feels so hard to make genuine connections...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2023. Things may have changed since.Recent stories from local outlets. Tap a headline to read it.
About 23,741 business locations in the Dallas area, employing about 449,862 people. That's about the usual U.S. share.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
One resident said the job market is booming but landing a job is not easy, requiring countless daily applications.
“Job market is booming, landing a job not so easy and I would apply to countless jobs every single morning and evening. I do have to say, I didn...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2025One resident noted that Dallas salaries appear higher than Utah's and that the cost of living in Texas remains favorable.
“The pay is $107k/year. I am assuming the dallas market pays more than utah. That 70k is more like 65k. Texas is definitely a good COL to be...”
Read the full commentPosted Jan. 2026Pick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
One resident felt summer now seems to stretch from May to Halloween and worried about heat stroke.
“It sort of seems like that the summer is stretching now from May to Halloween. I may be a heat stroke coming but I just didn’t think summers use to...”
Read the full commentPosted Aug. 2026What residents said in a local survey
From the 2025 Community Survey.
- 63% of residents felt the quality of life in Dallas was excellent or good.
- 67% of residents felt Dallas was an excellent or good place to live.
- 80% of residents rated garbage collections as excellent or good.
Around Dallas
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of the center of the Dallas area.
Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Biking and trails
Within 5 miles of the center of the Dallas area.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
Costs of moving here
What rent costs
Of about 1,101,564 rented homes in the Dallas area, 78% rent for under $2,000 a month and 97% for under $3,000.
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
The middle rented home in the Dallas area rents for $1,500 to $1,999 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $3,000 to $3,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $4,500 to $5,997 where landlords also ask for last month.
Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,500 to $1,999, that's a yearly income of about $54,000 to $71,964.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Moving to Texas: before and after
- Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
- Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Texas DMV.
- Register to vote at your new address: Texas voter registration.
- Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
- Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Schools and childcare
Schools
15 public school districts in this county, with about 413,487 students in all. The county also has 113 public charter schools and 149 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.
Closest public schools to the center of Dallas
Straight-line miles from the center of Dallas, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Texas's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.
Public school districts in the county
School choice and pre-K in Texas
School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Texas keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
| Age | Daycare center | Home daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $194/week about $10,100 a year | $172/week about $8,900 a year |
| Toddler (2) | $180/week about $9,400 a year | |
| Preschool (3 to 4) | $175/week about $9,100 a year | $160/week about $8,300 a year |
| School-age | $164/week about $8,500 a year |
For an infant at a center: $194/week here, $174 across TX, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 12% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
37 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Dallas. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.