Dallas or Houston??? (Sugar Land, West: crime rate, safe neighborhoods, good schools)

[xsyrax]

Hey everyone, would like your feedback on which area would be better for a young couple with a 9 month old son. Looking for a place to settle down permanently, with good schools, low cost of living, safe neighborhoods, lots of job opportunities, a large pakistani community, and overall fun place. Does Houston have better weather or Dallas???

[vertigo5110]

It depends on if you prefer hot or cold. Houston has less severe winters but Dallas's summers are probably a little better...

Houston has a pretty healthy population of Middle Eastern and South Asian residence. Houston's suburbs are always good for raising a family. Don't really know much about the Dallas area though.

[vertigo5110]

Originally Posted by vertigo5110

Houston has less severe winters but Dallas's summers are probably a little better...

What I meant by that is that Houston's summers are really hot but Dallas's winters are really cold.

I reread that and realized it sounded a little confusing

[Metro Matt]

Houston is more international than Dallas, & yes it does have a larger Middle Eastern presence...one of the largest in the US.

Houston is very humid during the Summer months, where Dallas is more dry & can even get rather arid like out in West Texas. Houston has much milder winters with temperatures barely reaching freezing. Dallas on the other hand can be bone chilling cold with lows dipping down into the teens causing ice on the roadways (a huge mess with North Texans lack of winter weather driving skills).

[travelguy_73]

Houston has a large Pakistani presence, which is reflected in the culture and (best of all!) cuisine of the city.

[NYer75]

Originally Posted by xsyrax

Hey everyone, would like your feedback on which area would be better for a young couple with a 9 month old son. Looking for a place to settle down permanently, with good schools, low cost of living, safe neighborhoods, lots of job opportunities, a large pakistani community, and overall fun place. Does Houston have better weather or Dallas???

Overall, Dallas has a higher crime rate than Houston...although both are above the U.S. average. Both cities have crimes at MORE than double that of NYC. You might want to check out the suburbs. I know Sugar Land is a very good Houston suburb.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by NYer75

Overall, Dallas has a higher crime rate than Houston...although both are above the U.S. average. Both cities have crimes at MORE than double that of NYC. You might want to check out the suburbs. I know Sugar Land is a very good Houston suburb.

More crime than NYC by percentage, yes. By raw numbers, no.

[Malvie]

Originally Posted by NYer75

Overall, Dallas has a higher crime rate than Houston...although both are above the U.S. average. Both cities have crimes at MORE than double that of NYC. You might want to check out the suburbs. I know Sugar Land is a very good Houston suburb.

Yeah, probably the rate, but item for item, I'd rather be in Houston or Dallas either one than NYC. Here, you're in your car or your house; in NYC, it's just you and the street...(and I've lived in all 3 places).

It's just like anywhere else: there were areas of NYC I could walk at 4:00 am and not feel afraid, and areas of NYC that I wouldn't go in broad daylight with a police escort.

Same in Dallas and Houston.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Houston is more international than Dallas, & yes it does have a larger Middle Eastern presence...one of the largest in the US.

Houston is very humid during the Summer months, where Dallas is more dry & can even get rather arid like out in West Texas. Houston has much milder winters with temperatures barely reaching freezing. Dallas on the other hand can be bone chilling cold with lows dipping down into the teens causing ice on the roadways (a huge mess with North Texans lack of winter weather driving skills).

The South Asian presence may be slightly larger in Houston, but it is nothing dramatic at all. There are more Pakistanis in Houston, but Dallas has more Indians. Overall its extremely close.

Dallas winter is indeed colder than Houston (by about 5-10 degrees on average), but the OP is coming from Ohio and DFW is no where that cold in the winter.

Houston is more international but Dallas is also a very international place.

Another thing to mention is that if you prefer city living, Houston might be better for you. If you prefer suburban living, DFW would be better. DFW's South Asian community is mostly in the suburbs. I believe Houstons is too, but not as much.

To the OP, make sure you visit both places before making a decision. You may very well be happier in Houston or Dallas, but you wont know until you visit both for at least a couple of days.

[NYer75]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

More crime than NYC by percentage, yes. By raw numbers, no.

Hello! That's what counts. Houston has 1.8 mil people...New York over 8 mil. But the CHANCES of you being a victim of crime is more than TWICE than in NYC.