comparing Dallas, Austin, Houston
 

You all have been so helpful and now I'm asking one more question. Comparing Dallas, Austin, and Houston (I'm meaning suburbs of these 3 large cities approx.30 minute drive of the major city/airport).
How do home prices compare in these 3 areas?
How does summer humidity compare?

I looked on a weather website and am surprised to see the average summer temperatures in Austin are HIGHER than average temperatures in Houston. Is Houston getting a bad rap or is it that the humidity is higher than Dallas or Austin making it less tolerable?

I've read that some people love Austin but didn't like Dallas or Houston. This is making me consider expanding my options. I visited a suburb of Houston (Kingwood) and loved it but haven't been there in mid summer.

Thank you Texans again for all your great help.

Houston is the most humid of the three, than Austin. Houston is unbelivably humid in the summer, really opressive. There was a debate on this forum more than a year ago between living in Houston or Dallas. I'd vote for Dallas every time although Kingswood is a beautiful suburb of Houston. I don't like the city of Houston; there is no zoning and it's just too sprawling. Dallas sprawls as well, but it's zoned and somehow doesn't seem as crowded.
The debate starts!

Houston is unbearably humid (like 10 minutes outside and you need to go back for A/C). Dallas is comparable to sticking your head into an oven. Austin is the best of the three (very hot, but gets cool breezes every now again because of lakes and hills).

BTW: All things aside Austin is one of the nicest (unique) places in the country. Dallas/Houston are regular cities with nothing special to offer (and I live in Dallas). Although if you're going 30 minuites from the airport they're all probably the same anyways.

I am not a native Texan but have spent significant time in these three cities - went to grad school in Houston, lived in Dallas, and visited Austin frequently. I don't know that I would really advocate living in any of them, but I do realize that Texas can't be beat from a cost of living vs. amenities perspective. I like downtown Houston and the museum district a lot, but don't like the suburbs at all, other than The Woodlands, which is too far from the city for most people. It is definitely hotter in Houston than the other two cities. Dallas has almost no downtown scene at all, but the midtown/uptown area is nice, and the suburbs are better than in Houston. Austin never did much for me at all, but I am not a music person and I generally don't like college towns except for when I was in college. But being liberal and vegetarian, I can appreciate the overall values of the city. I don't know if Austin has recovered from the tech downturn - I know a few years ago a lot of people were leaving because of the lack of jobs and the housing market was really having trouble. Overall, if I had to pick one city of these to live in, I would probably pick Dallas.

Thanks. It sounds like we should rule out Houston although the suburb we visited sure was gorgeous in April!

March and April are probably the prettiest months in Houston. All 3 of these cities are too hot and humid for comfort during the summer months. The relative humidity may be higher in Houston, but temperatures will be higher in the other two cities. I prefer Houston's winter weather. Austin and Dallas are affected by ice storms or other frozen precipitation more than Houston. Dallas is also in a much more tornado-prone area. You could have hurricane-related local flooding in any of these cities, but Houston would have the highest risk of the three. Houston and Dallas have the most direct flights. I am always happy not to have a connection to Austin when I return to Houston. I could live in any of these cities. I think the Austin area is the most scenic, but Dallas and Houston are larger and have many more amenities.

If your choices are between Austin and Dallas, the relative sizes of the two urban areas is a major factor.

Austin's metro is a little over a million people, whereas the Dallas (DFW) urban area is a little over 6 million. Obviously an area with 6 million people will offer much more in the way of urban amenities... more and better restaurants, a much better selection of museums, stage performances, a more diversified international population, much better employment options, more of practically anything you could think of, or haven't yet considered. Is "more" really better? Yes, because a larger city has more competition, forcing drastic improvements in quality.

For example, live musical performances. Austin's entertainment guide, Austin360, lists about 35 places to hear live music, maybe 2 or 3 of them featuring jazz.

In Dallas, their guide lists about 120 places featuring live music, about 30 of them playing jazz. If you don't particularly care for jazz, Dallas' selection of other kinds of music is equally overwhelming.

Someone mentioned Uptown Dallas. This is a vibrant, upscale dense pedestrian-oriented residential-commercial area, with many places to shop, eat, live. It has the walking-distance lifestyle that is common in European cities, or American cities like Boston, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Of course you don't have to live there to enjoy it... I don't, but every so often, I enjoy walking around in a real city.

In addition, Dallas has much metro rail transportation, the only Texas city to have such a system, although Houston has recently installed a few miles of rail. Dallas has many so-called "urban villages" as well, many of them built around transit stations.

It is probably the only Texas city where you could live without a car, if you chose to do so. True, many suburbs are not covered by the transit system, and driving is more convenient, but the areas that are transit-friendly offer virtually everything you need within walking distance.

I think the best response was the one observing that if you are looking at places 30 miutes from an airport it really doesn't matter very nuch whether you choose Houston or Dallas - they are all pretty much cookie cutter communities that could be anywhere in the country.
In terms of weather, Houston probably has more pleasant months, with only a couple really humid and the rest generally mild. Dallas, on the other hand, has heat and humidity (less than Houston but still impressive) in the summer, ice storms in the winter, and wind to the point of tornadoes as well. (DFW has the most weather related closures of any US airport, often becasue of windstorms). Plus, traffic in Dallas is worse than Houston.

I have heard the humidity is lower in Austin than Dallas and Houston...something the wind currents, I think.

Since Houston and Dallas both have larger airports, there is a greater chance of more direct flights; if that matters to you at all.

Thanks pepper. Being accessible with direct flights is very important as we travel quite a bit.

To me, living in a city with good arts & culture is one of the most important things. Of the 3, Houston has the best - the Houston Symphony and the Houston Grand Opera, plus the several excellent museums.

Dallas is next, also with a symphony and a opera company. The Dallas Opera will be moving to a new venue in 2009 in the Arts District. I believe this will significantly elevate the status of the Dallas Opera. In addition, Fort Worth has a decent symphony and opera company, and several excellent art museums as well.

All three get incredibly hot and uncomfortable in the summer -- no way around that. You'll have more rain in Austin and Houston, so the ground won't end up parched like it does in Dallas by late summer. It's hard to compare home prices because they will vary a lot depending on location, and the reputation and ratings of school district where the property is located.

DFW airport gives you a lot of flying options. I've heard airfares are generally higher out of DFW but can't confirm that.

Each city has its own personality. Austin is generally the most liberal, then Houston, then Dallas. But again, that varies depending on what part of town you are in and whether you are in a suburb.

The countryside around Austin is beautiful. You've seen Houston.. (have you been to Galveston?) Dallas is pretty, too, but continual development is wiping out some of that natual beauty in places, again, mostly in the suburbs.

t333,
The job/income would be my deciding factor (I'm retired).
I lived in the same house in the heavily wooded Northwood Hills area of Dallas for 25 years, but I would seriously consider Ft. Worth should I choose to return to the US.
M

There is no comparison. Austin is far better than Dallas or Houston ;). Really, South Austin Rocks and it's convenient to the airport. Houston and Dallas are in a whole other league. Way bigger and a whole faster pace of life!

When I visit these cities, I often see billboards advertising new developments. You could use the websites to compare the three cities/areas. These are some companies that I remember seeing:

kbhome.com
drhorton.com
dreeshomes.com
pulte.com
centex.com

If flying is important to you, I suggest you run some price tests, comparing each city to one of your regular destinations. In general, Dallas will be cheapest and Austin the highest. That shouldn't be the deciding factor, but it's certainly worth looking at.

I lived in Dallas for five years, first in expensive Highland Park, then in Lake Highlands, and eventually in the 'burbs in Garland. I disagree with the posting that says traffic is worse in Dallas than in Houston, but I guess it's relative to where you are trying to drive and when. My sister lives there still and at one time lived in Irving, near the airport, and it has its pretty spots. I really like Austin, though, because I am from Tennessee and it is most like the hilly, green, lakeside areas I grew up in. I did use the rail system from Garland to downtown Dallas often for shopping, work, and church. I think they are expanding it still. Spend some time in each if you can...and best of luck!

I grew up in the Memorial area of Houston, lived in Dallas (Los Colinas and Addison) for 4 years, and Austin (in town) for 11. You haven't really said what you are looking for in a place to live but my order would be 1. Austin 2. Houston 3. Dallas.

To me, the weather is a pretty much a toss up. It is HOT in all three. I am surprised that Austin is actually hotter than Houston, it must be the humidity factor. Dallas can get some severe (for Texas) winter weather.

As far as travel, I actually preferred Austin, as you weren't glued to either Continental or American. Plus, the airport is quite convenient. If you picked Austin, most of the suburbs are significantly closer than 30 minutes into town. As far as traffic, I find Houston and Dallas equally horrendous. Austin can be bad but you're never going all that far so it doesn't seem so bad.

I sold real estate in Austin and, of the three, housing is more expensive in Austin. You can get tons of info at recenter.tamu.edu.

I think so much depends on what kind of lifestyle you are looking for, do you have kids, will you commute to the city, where are you moving from, etc.

I LOVED living in Austin. I think the size of it is perfect. It has culture but isn't huge. It is also MUCH more than just a college town. I moved to the Bay Area but would move back in a heartbeat if I could. Can't say the same for Dallas or Houston.

Traveller333 and her husband are over 65 and looking for a golf course home. See 'Relocating to Dallas questions' by clicking on Traveller333.
The "severe" winter weather in Dallas consists of about 1/8" of snow every couple of years in which the town shuts down for a day. Or sometimes we get a bit of ice and no one leaves home for a day or two. No big deal to those of us raised in the North. And we've lived here 25 years and never had a tornado near us (knock wood).
Since you're retired, you won't necessarily be out in rush hour traffic but there are other considerations in your home search, property taxes and distance to a hospital would be a couple of those.
Will you be coming to Dallas to take a look? Happy hunting!

We have lived in Austin for ten years now, and a couple in our college years 20 years ago (Aaack!) We will be moving to Houston in the near future due to a promotion. Everyone who lives in Austin LOVES Austin. I often tell people it's not that exciting to visit here, but it's such a wonderful place to live. It's a very casual area. Hanging out is a well-accepted pastime. People wear shorts to church. It's beyond me why other cities do not accomodate their citizens with casual dress, considering the Texas heat! Fun activities--such as hiking, biking, shopping, bar-hopping--all are espoused as worthwhile endeavors. The city embraces diversity ("Keep Austin Weird"). This past weekend, we had an outdoor supper at Nutty Brown Cafe in SW Austin, among gnarled ancient oak trees. A couple of local bands played while little girls danced with their friends or granddads on the dancefloor in front of the stage. A parrot rocked along in a giant cage by the center bar. My daughter played in a sandpit near our table, while we enjoyed queso and chips. Afterward we smoked cigars and remarked on the mixed demographic of the crowd..families, college kids in club wear, dating couples and a bachelorette party. I became a little nostalgic, and told my husband, "There's nothing like this in Houston." He responded, "Nothing like this exists anywhere else." : )

I live in Houston. Don't particularly like the suburbs but I can see it is because you are retiring. I think the best place for you to be in Austin. If I were to retire, Houston or Dallas would be the last place. Austin is just prettier and has more things to do - especially for retirees. I love my job so I wouldn't be moving and I have learned to love houston since it is my home but it doesn't compare to Austin. Niether does Dallas.

As to whether Austin is prettier... the Austin suburbs look no different than suburbs anywhere else... and Austin has no real urban residential areas comparable, say, to midtown Houston or Uptown Dallas.

Dallas and Houston have more things to do than Austin because they are 4 or 5 times the population of Austin...

I live in Dallas and I take advantage of the many museums, concerts, clubs, festivals, educational, medical opportunities and shops that you'd expect to find in an urban area of 6 million people... Austin has a little over one million... and that makes an enormous difference in what each metro area has to offer...

The reason that Austin people are so fanatically devoted to their city is its politics... generally the only place in Texas with a left-of-center ideological orientation... people in Texas who favor that view of the world gravitate to Austin as a refuge, they have no where else to go... at least not in this part of America.

If that is you, then Austin is your mecca. On the other hand, if it means nothing to you, then Austin has little else to make up for its small size and shortage of major city amenities.

Both Dallas and Houston are several times the size of Austin. In practical terms, why would this be an advantage? What is the benefit of having 5 times as many gas stations and supermarkets?

The main benefit of size is greater variety and selection, not just quantity.

If I want to open a men's outdoor clothing shop in a city that already has a dozen of them, mine has to be distinctive in some way... it must find a special and unique niche. And the bigger the city, the more competition, the more variety, the more selection.

Apply that idea to everything you see, do, eat, drink, experience... and you find that a much larger city offers a much richer and more interesting experience of life than a smaller one. It is more likely to have a specialist that deals with your specific medical problem, or legal problem... more likely to have a religious congregation that suits your needs and wants.

This was true for me when I left Dallas for Austin for a couple of months on a job assignment. Compared to Dallas, Austin's movie houses had less variety, the choice of restaurants was skimpier in terms of quantity and selection and quality, Austin's museums were a joke compared to what I had in the DFW area, Austin's housing was in shorter supply, and with less variety, and its entertainment options were trivial, or geared to 20 year old college students.

Austin generally came up short in giving me the things and experiences that were important to my life. The 2 months I spent in Austin were basically a loss... except for the additional insight I gained about what cities are all about.

If Austin really has only 1M population, they are all on the roads each time I visit.
M

hmmm....

Let's do a little math...

one million cars would be about 20 million feet.... no, make it 40 million, for a 20 foot separation between cars.

40 million feet is 7,575 miles at 5280 feet per mile... that's right... a line of cars stretching from New York City to LA, and another one from LA back to NYC.

Dallas is going to have things that are far more specialized, sophisticated and potentially useful, than a small city like Austin could support.

For example, lawyers...

My elderly mom discovered that her accountant had been dipping his beak into the honey pot a little too deep, and she wanted her money back... The guy had squandered it, and couldn't even settle for pennies on the dollar, he was so broke.

Well, Dallas is big and sophisticated enough to have a law firm that specializes in "Little Old Ladies who are cheated by crooked accountants".

It takes a special set of skills and a very specialized knowledge base to build a legal claim against a professional accountant, but Dallas is big enough to have a law firm that does exactly that.

In a town like Austin, you'd have to settle for a guy who's one step up from chasing ambulances.

Well, the case dragged on, and the "Little Old Lady" in question passed on to a place where money is useless, but I continued the lawsuit... With the help of the firm, we got the guy pretty much over a barrel, and after the settlement with his accounting firm and his insurance carrier, my lawyer was rich, my mother's trust funds were richer, and all the grandchildren went on shopping sprees.

Well, God forbid that this specific problem ever happens to any of you... but strange, weird things happen all the time... Life hands out some painful, one-of-a-kind punches, and it's easier to deal with it in a big town like Dallas...

Austin has traffic, but it's really my fave out of the TX cities. Then San Antonio which wasn't mentioned. I was in Houston last summer when we were visiting my daughter in Austin. Even though it was 102F on day in Austin, the 94F in Houston felt hotter with the humidity.

Trippin, every city in Texas has a core of people who think it's "the best", and are willing to get on a forum like this to voice their loyalty. ... and every city in Texas has something that sets it apart from the others, establishes its own niche. Each is unique in its own way.

You don't give any rationale for your opinion, however. You can't explain what you like about it that is so compelling. If you can't explain that particular something, then your statement is really meaningless to everyone else. Why should anyone care if you claim to like Austin? Why should anyone care if you claim to like pistachio ice cream, or anchovies on your pizza?

On a strictly numerical basis, DFW has Austin outvoted, since 5 times as many people choose to live there, for whatever reason, as choose Austin. Houston is 4 times as good as Austin, in spite of its humidity, based on the fact that 4 times as many people selected it.

If I were from out-of-state looking for a Texas city to settle in, I'd like to know as much about their respective merits as possible... I'd want to know which one is better for ME. I couldn't care less what is better for YOU. If you can't give me some good reasons that Austin is my best choice, I don't need to hear you.

In a few specialized areas, Austin has things to offer... but most people moving to Texas are not likely to have them as their priorities... that's why roughly half of the people in Texas live in either the DFW or Houston areas... those two cities are the most likely places to have what a newcomer wants and needs.

Sure, Houston is humid. But... obviously that fact is outweighed by the many advantages that Houston has over Austin... Likewise Dallas over Austin. The bottom line... most Texans have voted with their feet... and Austin was not the winner.

i attended a conference in Houston.
Never have I seen so many fat people and buffets anywhere else.

Yeah, I think there are more fat people in Houston than in Muleshoe, Arkansas...

So are you an expert on the fat people demographic of American cities?

The fat people people who eat at buffets in Houston are usually from out of town attending conferences.

Hahaha.... good comeback, Binthair... !

You've got a knack for pointing out the obvious inanity... such as the one in Tondalaya's comment...

XBT, if you want reasons for my opinion that's fine, but I shoiuldn't have to defend myself. We're musicians, and I like the music scene there. I like college towns, and downtowns that are fun to walk in. I like Town Lake, spending time at Zilker Park, Barton Springs and Lake Travis. I like the dining and clubs of South Congress (So Co) and South Lamarr. The One World theatre and Lake Travis.
So there's some reasons for you. Just because a place has a higher population doesn't make it better more interesting. I live in San Jose, CA which is more populated than San Francisco. But I'd pick the city by the bay over my home city anyday. :-)
PS- we shouldn't have to justify our opinions on this board, LOL! Have a great day everybody! :-)

And XBT, Have fun dominating this post. That's it for me as I have better things to do with my time.

Houston, Dallas, and Austin are all HUMID and HOT during summers. Lets compare Dallas vs Houston: Dallas is hotter than Houston, but Dallas is slightly less humid than Houston, making the "feels like" temperature the same in both cities. On average, if Dallas temperature is 98° then Houston will be 93°, if Dallas humidity is 62% then Houston will be 70%, and thus making the "feels like temperature" of about 104° in both cities. So summers are equally terrible in both cities.

But Houston has an advantage in winters. Dallas commonly gets many days below freezing temps (sometimes as low as 16°) during winters. This causes major traffic problems with ice on roads under moisture. On the other hand, below freezing temps are rare in Houston (3-4 days max of as low as 30-28°). Also, hail storms and tornadoes are much more common in Dallas. But Houston gets more of the rare hurricanes. And flooding is common in both cities, probably a little more intense in sone areas of Houston.