From a small trading post along the Trinity River to the ninth-largest city in the U.S., Dallas is proof of the saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” The arrival of the railroads in 1872 and the discovery of oil in 1930 were major catalysts in the growth of the wider metropolitan area, now called the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which today is home to more than 8 million people. (Those "people" include former president George W. Bush, entrepreneur Mark Cuban and celebrities like Owen Wilson.) And while Dallas is the third most populous city in Texas, it takes top billing as the home of the country's biggest state fair (with 2.3 million visitors), the world’s tallest cowboy (the 55-foot Big Tex) and the world’s most popular NFL franchise, the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas is the headquarters of 11 Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, Southwest Airlines and Texas Instruments. “A big reason people come here is because employment is bringing them this way,” says Maribel Ramos, a Realtor with Century 21 Mike Bowman and host of the TV show “American Dream.” “There are a lot of companies that are moving here and bringing their people with them.” Recent and future transplants include health tech companies Psychemedics and Verily Life Sciences, which is owned by Google’s Alphabet. Major medical centers such as Parkland Health & Hospital System, Medical City Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center are some of the city’s largest employers.
Big Tex is a 55-foot-tall figure and marketing icon of the annual State Fair of Texas in Dallas.
Just outside Dallas city limits sits AT&T Stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys football team.
Major medical centers, such as Parkland Health & Hospital System, are located in Dallas
Dallas is the headquarters of 11 Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T since 2008.
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A strong housing market in the city and suburbs
As Dallas has grown, suburbs like Frisco, Plano, and McKinney have boomed with new subdivisions, but homes within the city limits maintain their strong appeal. “The [Dallas] market is good, it’s healthy,” says Marcy Barkemeyer, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. In January 2025, the median home price in Dallas was around $450,000, slightly higher than the national median price of $420,000. Buyers can find modest ranch-style houses and cottages ranging from around $100,000 to $300,000 on the densely populated streets of south Dallas communities such as Wynnewood . The neighborhoods of north and east Dallas generally feature newer, larger and pricier homes. Eastern communities include Forest Hills and Buckner Terrace . North Dallas, in particular, has some of the city’s most affluent enclaves, including Highland Park, Lakewood and Preston Hollow . In these neighborhoods, homes start at around $2 million and can easily top $15 million.
In September 2024, the city council passed ForwardDallas 2.0, a long-term land use plan that aims to address housing demand and provide a framework for future development. Part of the plan allows for duplexes and townhouses in single-family neighborhoods, though not larger, multifamily housing. “It’s going to have some impact eventually,” says Adam Murphy, a real estate specialist at Dave Perry-Miller.
Dallas has some of the city’s most affluent enclaves, including Highland Park.
Dallas is home to a mix of architectural styles, including luxurious high-rise condos.
Large historic homes that were built in the early 20th century can be found in Old East Dallas.
Dallas feature farmhouse and Craftsman homes, some with driveways and two-car garages,
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410 parks and 180 miles of trails
The Dallas parks system includes 410 parks and over 20,000 acres of parkland. One of the most popular destinations is White Rock Lake in East Dallas, featuring a 1,000-acre lake for kayaking, boating, biking and sailing. "It's a huge draw for people all over the city to come and spend their weekends,” says Realtor Lee Lamont of Lamont Realty Group. Next to the lake is the Dallas Arboretum, which has several diverse gardens and has been named one of the best places in the world to see cherry blossoms by MSN.
The parks system also operates over 180 miles of trails throughout the city, taking residents through urban neighborhoods or along the Trinity River, near Downtown Dallas . There are six golf courses that are part of the parks system, including Stevens Park Golf Course, one of the Top 100 courses in the state, according to the Dallas Morning News. Dallas is home to three more of the Top 10 courses on the list: Dallas National Golf Club, Preston Trail Golf Club and Brook Hollow Golf Club.
Every fall for three weeks, the Fair Park area in South Dallas comes alive with the arrival of the State Fair of Texas. Attractions include the Ferris wheel, live music, food and the Big Tex statue.
The Dallas Blooms festival has offered one of the most spectacular floral displays.
The Dallas parks system includes 410 parks and over 20,000 acres of parkland.
Dallas is home to three of the top 10 golf courses, perfect for avid players.
The Cotton Bowl is an iconic stadium in Dallas and the site of the State Fair of Texas.
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From upscale shopping at Highland Park to Dallas Cowboys football
Dallas residents head to Uptown , Preston Hollow and Highland Park for dining and shopping. In the downtown area, two smaller neighborhoods are hot spots for dining. Bishop Arts District is known for its eclectic and colorful shops and restaurants, including Lockhart Smokehouse BBQ, considered one of the best barbecue joints in Dallas. If there's one place that can rival Lockhart, it's Terry Black's Barbecue in the Deep Ellum neighborhood, just east of downtown. This lively historic district is also known for its bars, clubs and live music venues.
For upscale shopping, there’s Highland Park Village, an outdoor mall with Spanish-inspired architecture. It opened in 1931 and was the first planned shopping center in the country. Today, shoppers can browse stores like Peter Millar, Dior and Chanel. The primarily residential Preston Hollow neighborhood nearby has shopping and dining on its outskirts.
Downtown Dallas is home to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas Museum of Art. The Dallas Zoo, south of downtown, is one of the oldest zoos in the U.S. The AT&T Performing Arts Center hosts opera, dance and theater performances, while the Meyerson Symphony Center next door is home to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. For football and baseball, fans head 20 miles to Arlington to Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Bring the family for free access to the Dallas Museum of Arts in Downtown Dallas.
For upscale shopping, there's Highland Park Village, an open-air shopping center in Dallas.
Explore dinosaurs at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in downtown Dallas.
Feed the giraffes while you visit the Dallas Zoo, just south of downtown Dallas.
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Public and private education options
The Dallas Independent School District serves more than 143,000 students and has an overall student-teacher ratio of 17-to-1. The school district earns a B grade from Niche. Students can study career pathways that allow them to work with industry professionals, train on state-of-the-art equipment, and earn certifications in high school. The city is also home to well-regarded private schools such as St. Mark's School of Texas, the No. 2 all-boys high school in the country, according to Niche. The school has approximately 900 students and is known for its extracurricular activities, including 16 sports, 90 clubs and a nationally acclaimed newspaper.
There are several public colleges and universities in the metropolitan area, including the University of Texas at Dallas (UT-Dallas), located north of the city of Richardson. The university enrolls about 31,000 students and offers over 150 academic programs. UT-Dallas offers nationally ranked programs in STEM, management, liberal arts and social sciences, and the university's esports team is ranked in the Top 10 in the country.
Private universities include Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Dallas Baptist University. SMU is located in University Park and serves approximately 12,000 students across eight different schools; it’s ranked in the top 20% of national universities, according to the 2024 U.S. News and World Report. Dallas Baptist is a private Christian school serving over 4,000 students and offering 79 undergraduate majors. There are also several community colleges in the city, including Dallas College Mountain View Campus and Dallas College Richland Campus.
SMU is located outside Dallas, serves approximately 12,000 students and home to the Mustangs.
The University of Texas at Dallas is home to 31,000 students and offers 150 academic programs.
Dallas Baptist University offers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs in Dallas.
Dallas is home to well-regarded private schools, like St. Mark's School of Texas.
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Traveling around North Texas
Dallas has been a transportation hub since the railroad came to town, and it still serves this vital role. Four interstates pass through the city, connecting residents to other major Texas cities. Interstate 45 connects Dallas to Houston to the southeast. I-35 leads south to Waco, Austin and San Antonio. I-20 and I-30 each connect Dallas to Arlington and Fort Worth to the west.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is 20 miles from downtown; it’s the third-busiest airport in the world and is the largest hub of American Airlines. The airport serves 68 international and 190 domestic destinations. It's a four-hour flight from Dallas to most major U.S. cities. Love Field, which offers domestic flights and is the hub for Southwest Airlines, is 6 miles northwest of downtown Dallas.
Amtrak offers service on the Texas Eagle train from the Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station downtown. Dallas Area Rapid Transit provides rail and bus systems in the Metroplex.
Crime rate continues to trend down
Dallas’ property and violent crime rates are significantly higher than state and national figures. In 2021, the Dallas Police Department announced a Violent Crime Reduction Plan. Since then, Dallas’ overall violent crime rate has declined year-over-year. According to data from the Dallas Police Department, homicides decreased by more than 25% in 2024. Property crime, however, remains elevated.
Extreme heat and tornado risk
Dallas is prone to extreme heat and humidity during the summer, with temperatures regularly in the 90s. More than half of the city’s buildings are at risk for wildfires, while less than a quarter are at risk for flooding. Dallas is also prone to tornados, but the City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management has strategically placed outdoor emergency warning sirens throughout the area.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
