Lived here 3 years now. Here's what I wish I knew on day one.
1. You will drive more than you ever thought possible. I put 18,000 miles on my car my first year. Everything requires driving. Public transit exists but it's limited.
2. The toll roads will drain your bank account if you're not careful. Get a TollTag from NTTA immediately. Without one, you pay 50%+ more. And the LBJ Express dynamic pricing can hit $20+ during rush hour.
3. Hail will find your car. Get comprehensive coverage on your car insurance. Hail season (March-June) is real and your car WILL get hit eventually.
4. The food scene is insanely diverse. DFW has top-tier Vietnamese (Garland), Korean (Carrollton), Indian (Irving), Ethiopian (multiple), Mexican (everywhere), and BBQ. Don't sleep on it.
5. Dallas and Fort Worth are genuinely different cities. Dallas is corporate, diverse, fast-paced. Fort Worth is more laid-back, Western heritage, arts-focused. Both are great. Try both.
6. Allergies will find you. Even if you've never had allergies. DFW's cedar, oak, and ragweed seasons will break you. Buy Flonase.
7. The summers are brutal but survivable. June-September is 95-107. You adapt. Remote start your car, use a windshield sunshade, drink water constantly.
8. Making friends takes effort. DFW is huge. People are friendly but busy. You have to be intentional. Join something that meets weekly.
9. The DFW job market is strong. Multiple Fortune 500 HQs, tech companies, healthcare systems. If you lose a job, there's another one.
10. You'll love it more than you expected. Nobody dreams of moving to DFW. But most people who come here end up staying. There's a reason 200+ people move here daily.
What would you add?
The "200 people move here daily" stat is real and it's why traffic gets worse every year. But also why the food, culture, and job market keep getting better.