Single Young Professional - Uptown to McKinney reverse commute? (Dallas: apartments, lease)

[TX_2013]

I'm a 25-year-old single young professional looking at relocation from Southern California (LA area) to the Dallas area.

I want to live close to restaurants, nightlife, and activities with other young singles like me. Uptown sounds like exactly what I'm looking for, and I see a lot of good apartments there.

My only concern is that I'd be working in McKinney (Raytheon). I'm obviously open to some commute (being from LA after all), but I'm not sure how terrible that commute would be, how long it would take, if traffic would be bad (reverse commute?), etc.

Anyone from the area able to provide some insight?

Thanks for any help!

[TurtleCreek80]

About 30 minutes in the am / 40+ in the pm if you are driving around 7:30am and 5:30pm. Unfortunately, McKinney is on the 75 side which moves slower than the Dallas North Tollroad but overall, the commute moves and is still against the flow of traffic. Overall speeds are slower on 75 due to more truck traffic.

IMO, worth it to at least start in Uptown for the lifestyle and ease of making friends vs living north of there.

[PlanoGirl]

I live in Mckinney and love it, but for a young single person who into nightlife, etc...Uptown would definitely be the best place. So I'd aim for that area if your budget allows. If after a year, the commute is killing you, then you could consider places a bit further north if necessary. Though I would put the commute slightly higher than what TC80 said...most days I think it will be more like 40-45 in am and closer to an hour in the pm.

And welcome to Texas!

[DitsyD]

Hubby thinks probably 35-45, unless there is an accident. Accidents on the south bound side will slow you too because of all of the lookie-loos. (My hubby works for Raytheon, so welcome)

[BigDGeek]

I commute 'with' traffic on 75 but it seems to me that the northbound side is always more clogged in the morning and the southbound side is always more clogged in the afternoon, especially on Fridays.

[jcl_cls02]

Traffic in Dallas is not that bad compared to LA traffic. Traffic in LA is almost 24 hours a day, even on weekends vs here which is only during rush hour M-F. You should be good.

[jdallas]

Keep in mind that if you live in uptown but then move north of 635 to be closer to work, your friends will shun you and you will have to start over.
I'm somewhat kidding but you may want to look into the Legacy development in Plano. Several of the same Uptown hotspots have opened sister locations there for a reason.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by jdallas

Keep in mind that if you live in uptown but then move north of 635 to be closer to work, your friends will shun you and you will have to start over.
I'm somewhat kidding but you may want to look into the Legacy development in Plano. Several of the same Uptown hotspots have opened sister locations there for a reason.

This isn't entirely jokey...some people really do refuse to go north of Mockingbird.

[txgolfer130]

Uptown to McKinney in the morning's are about 30-40 min. Afternoon from McKinney to high 5 (635/75) area takes about 25 min from experience so you'll have to add another 15-20 for traffic/distance. So on avg. about 40 min both ways.

Compared to LA, just a quick jaunt up/down the road. In DFW a 30-40 min commute is about the norm.

Have you considered Addison as well? About 15-20 min from Uptown. Knox-Henderson area as well might be another great alternative which is about 5 min. further up (North) 75.

Welcome to Texas, Dallas & McKinney!

[BeanyMalone]

Take the shortest lease available in the Uptown-Knox/Henderson complex that suits your fancy. Especially if you have flexibility in when you can get to and leave the office, you'll be fine for a test period. If you end up hating the commute, you can look for someplace new, and you'll be that much more familiar with the Dallas area and where your new tribe hangs out.

And the thing about people in Dallas proper thinking above the George H.W. Bush Turnpike is Oklahoma does have a lot of truth, but it also works in reverse I've found. The Frisco, Allen, McKinney crowd often can't fathom life goes on to the south. Maybe that's why Richardson has ended up working so well for me.