Dallas or Fort Worth? Two Cities, Not One
Dallas and Fort Worth are two cities in two counties, almost forty minutes apart. Learn how to choose a side before you move, then book a free consultation.
Two Cities, Not One
People who come from out of town hear "Dallas-Fort Worth" and imagine a single city with a hyphen in the middle. It is actually two cities, in two counties, each with its own downtown, almost forty minutes apart without traffic.
DFW stands for Dallas-Fort Worth, and DFW Airport sits between the two. Fort Worth is to the west of the airport, and Dallas is to the east. Fort Worth is its own area and a completely different city from Dallas, each with its own character. Choosing between them is the first decision of a relocation.
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Dallas and Fort Worth at a Glance
Fort Worth: relaxed and traditional, rooted in Western heritage ("Where the West Begins").
Fort Worth: the historic Stockyards, Western heritage, and Sundance Square.
Fort Worth: rodeos, honky-tonks, the zoo, the Botanic Garden, and trails.
Fort Worth: a more compact downtown.
Fort Worth: west of DFW Airport.
Choosing a Side Starts With Your Job Address
Choosing which side to live on is the most important decision you will make, and it is made with your job address in hand.
If your job is in Fort Worth, a home on the Dallas side will change your daily life. If it is in North Dallas, a home on the Fort Worth side will be a daily struggle.
The question is answered by driving the route at the real time, not by looking at a map, and we do that before choosing a house. If you are moving from another state or country, we can do it with a recorded video of the route, then confirm it in person on your pre-planning trip.
What to Know About Dallas
Dallas is the center of the metroplex, in Dallas County. The city spans several counties and has streets from almost every decade of the last century, so there is no single style and no single market. There are dozens. That is worth keeping in mind before you picture "a Dallas house." The name of the city says little. The direction where the house is located says it all.
School locations depend on the exact address. Part of the city is in Dallas ISD, and other parts fall into neighboring districts, so we verify it street by street.
Summers here are long and hot, which affects the house as well as daily life. An older air conditioner is a real consideration, and we make sure it is flagged during the inspection.
What to Know About Fort Worth
Fort Worth is nicknamed Cowtown for its deep roots in the cattle ranching industry, and it has a rich and diverse cultural history. The Stockyards, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, and Sundance Square are the places most visitors see first, and the Kimbell Art Museum is among its renowned museums.
Outdoor options are close by too, including the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, Eagle Mountain Lake, and the Greer Island and Canyon Trail. If your work or your life is centered on this side, a Fort Worth home is a different search from a Dallas one, and we treat it that way.
Fort Worth is also a huge area. It includes some very expensive neighborhoods, and across Tarrant County there is a large amount of new construction. Property taxes vary from one neighborhood to the next, so we check them for each one before you compare, and we confirm the school district for every address.
The Roads and Airports That Shape Your Commute
Dallas-Fort Worth, often shortened to DFW or "the metroplex," is a large region spanning several counties, not a single city. The northern growth is concentrated in Collin County and Denton County. The urban core sits in Dallas County, and the Fort Worth side anchors Tarrant County.
Then layer in how you move around. The Dallas North Tollway runs north to south through the heart of the northern corridor. The Sam Rayburn Tollway, also called 121, runs east to west across the northern suburbs. The President George Bush Turnpike loops across the region and connects many of the northern cities. US-75, the Central Expressway, carries the Plano and Richardson corridor toward downtown. I-635, the LBJ, rings the north side of Dallas, and I-35 splits the region on its way through, into I-35E on the Dallas side and I-35W on the Fort Worth side.
Two airports frame your travel: DFW International, between Dallas and Fort Worth, and Dallas Love Field, closer to the core.
Once you see how the cities, counties, tollways, and airports fit together, choosing the right part of the metro is far less overwhelming. Two homes the same distance from your office can feel like completely different commutes, depending on tollway access, the direction you drive relative to traffic, and the time of day you leave.
How We Test the Drive
A map shows distance. It does not show time. In this metropolitan area, twenty miles can be twenty minutes or an hour, and the difference is the hour of day and the route you take.
So we work from your real addresses. We start with where you work, then choose the areas that make sense, and drive the actual route at the time you would really be driving it, in the morning and again in the evening. If you cannot be here yet, we record that drive on video so you can watch it before you decide.
Both sides have their own challenges. Interstate 35E on the Dallas side and Interstate 35W on the Fort Worth side each have rush-hour patterns of their own, so we test the route you would actually take. Cities here come in pockets, and two places that look close on a map can still be about thirty minutes apart on just two roads, while a city that looks far can be an easy drive. That is why we ask where you work and what kind of drive you want to have before we suggest an area.
Online groups are full of opinions about commutes. We have driven these routes ourselves, at the real time of day. And we strongly recommend a preview trip before you buy. Seeing the areas and driving your route in person is the best way to confirm the choice.
It is a small step that prevents the most expensive mistake in a relocation: choosing the wrong area and having to move again to fix it.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Side
Where is your job address, and is it fixed? A hybrid schedule can change which side makes sense.
What do you want close by? Some people want a walkable city setting, and others want a neighborhood with space and amenities.
Which school district does each address belong to? District lines do not follow city lines, so the answer is street by street.
How does the house handle a long, hot summer? We check the air conditioning, especially if it is older.
If you are not sure about any of these yet, that is what the free consultation is for.
City or Northern Suburbs?
These are two different ways of living, and we explain both without pushing you toward either one. The answer depends on your job, your schedule, and what you want to have close by. Many relocating buyers are drawn to the northern suburbs, such as Plano, Frisco, Prosper, and Celina, and others want the city itself, such as Highland Park or Uptown.
To see how the northern communities compare, try our community comparison. When you are ready to talk it through, book a free consultation. It is not too early to call, even if your move is months away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important decision when I arrive?
The area, not the house. Choosing the wrong area is the expensive mistake, because you have to move again to fix it, and guidance before you buy can avoid it.
How do I calculate how much I will drive?
With the actual directions, at the time you would really be driving. In this metropolitan area, twenty miles can be twenty minutes or an hour, and you cannot see that on a map.
Should I live in the city or in the northern suburbs?
They are two different ways of living, and we explain both. The answer depends on your job, your schedule, and what you want to have close by.
What should I check about the weather?
Air conditioning, especially if it is older. Summers here are long and hot, so older equipment matters and is flagged during the inspection.