Dallas TX or Bozeman MT

[zahc]

Say you had to choose between moving to one of the above, and other factors were the same. Choosing purely on political and meteorological climate, which would you go for?

[Thor]

Being a displaced Native Texan, I'm a little biased. I'd choose Dallas area first and foremost. Bozeman's a quaint little town, but winters can be harsh.

Summers in Texas can be quite warm, but there are always lakes to go cool off in.

[MillCreek]

Bozeman.  Solely due to the heat in Texas.  Like any true native Puget Sounder, we start to complain and feel faint once it gets above 75 degrees. 

[Brad Johnson]

Bozeman.  Solely due to the heat in Texas.

That's not much comfort when the high temp is hovering in the mid-teens come January.   

Brad

[BobR]

Dallas, or somewhere close.

A metropolitan area with all that goes with it, or a small town of 30K or so. For me, it would be a hard decision, except for the fact I live in Montana now. I would go to Dallas.


bob

[crt360]

I guess it depends on what elements of the political climate you are concerned with.  I'm not aware of any issues that would move me one way or the other.  Meteorologically, Dallas is warm to hot half the year and pretty nice the other half, Bozeman is just the opposite.  I like Bozeman, but I don't know if I could get used to snow and cold weather for that long.  I've lived in Texas all my life and have always tolerated the heat.  I don't like the heat, but it doesn't stop me from doing most of the things I'd otherwise do.  I'd probably choose to live in Dallas and visit Bozeman.

[Matthew Carberry]

Bozeman.  Solely due to the heat in Texas.

That's not much comfort when the high temp is hovering in the mid-teens come January.   

Brad

You can always add another sweater for warmth, but you can only get so nekkid for cool.

[Brad Johnson]

Bozeman.  Solely due to the heat in Texas.

That's not much comfort when the high temp is hovering in the mid-teens come January.   

Brad

You can always add another sweater for warmth, but you can only get so nekkid for cool.

Doesn't bother me, but the neighbors tend to complain...

Brad

[garyk/nm]

Hmmm....Dallas vs Bozeman;
Having spent time in both places, I'd go with Dallas (or suburbs thereof).
Big city vs small town
Warm vs bring-in-the-brass-monkey
Texas wimmen vs Montana.... absolutely no contest.
That whole Texas thang.
Unless you are a die-hard small town guy, go to Dallas and find a comfortable suburb.

[zahc]

Texas wimmen vs Montana.... absolutely no contest

Wow I was pretty impressed with the (college age) women in Bozeman, at least compared to the pickings in Ohio. Texas must be in a whole other league.

[crt360]

Texas wimmen vs Montana.... absolutely no contest

Wow I was pretty impressed with the (college age) women in Bozeman, at least compared to the pickings in Ohio. Texas must be in a whole other league.

Yep.  And they aren't hidden under all that winter clothing down here. 

[Matthew Carberry]

They have more reason to snuggle all winter long in the higher latitudes... 

[Antibubba]

Despite the lack of sunshine, Bozeman.

Dallas/Ft. Worth is way too big.  Sacramento is getting too big for me, and it's only half a million.

[JonnyB]

Bozeman is a beautiful place but I thought it was being over-run by leftists from California. I had heard (yeah, I know...) that the beautiful people are buying up real estate around Bozeman.

jb

[crt360]

Bozeman is a beautiful place but I thought it was being over-run by leftists from California. I had heard (yeah, I know...) that the beautiful people are buying up real estate around Bozeman.

jb

I dated a girl who moved there (from Texas) and she was complaining about that ten years ago.

[Thor]

zahc, what would the reason be for moving?? Work?? If so, would the job be in Dallas proper or one of the suburbs?? I grew up in Denison, which is 75 miles due north of Dallas. There are plenty of suburbs near Dallas within a reasonable commuting distance. One good thing about Texas is not having to shovel snow ( or move it around).

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

We've had snow 4x so far this year in Dallas. Each time it was gone within 24 hours, if that long.

If that's not incentive enough, I don't know what is.

We honestly do have 4 seasons in Texas- December, January, February, and Hell. I've had the windows open at the house for 2 weeks now. (Take that, Ohio!) It's been in the 70's and 80's plenty of times already.

Property values are more affordable, the cost of living is good, employment is booming, and we have cheap housekeeping and lawn care affordable...(that's a joke, folks). 

Shiner Bock.

CCW permits all around. Outdoor ranges that are useable (and survivable) year round. Bad skiing. Lakes. An ocean. Lakes the size of oceans. Hog hunting. Wimmen.

We used to be our own country. Might be again, if they keep poking at us.

Nobody is completely insane except for Austin and certain parts of Houston.

Traffic isn't that bad, except for 820 in Ft. Worth.

Cheaper Than Dirt.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[Felonious Monk/Fignozzle]

I'd check Homefair.com, for a TON of information, like below:      
*not knowing Dallas, I randomly picked a zip code.  No idea if it's representative of where you're considering.

City Profile Report Results    
City snapshot: Bozeman, Montana
Zip: 59718
County: Gallatin County
About our data

 Demographics    Details     Bozeman
59718     Montana     National
Population    
View
   19,069    922,368    293,686,994
Population Change Since 1990       85.00%    15.00%    18.00%
Population Density       63    6    N/A
Male       9,888    459,573    144,444,127
Female       9,181    462,795    149,242,867
Never Married       5,081    179,643    62,792,930
Married       8,322    409,584    118,602,595
Separated       346    31,418    13,541,406
Widowed       1,345    83,251    23,102,252
Divorced       428    47,257    14,955,501
Number of households    
View
   7,527    373,148    112,708,665
Average Household Size       2.53    2.40    2.54
Median Age    
View
   31.65    37.93    35.17

 Income and Jobs    Details     Bozeman
59718     Montana     National
Median Household Income    
View
   $42,878    $35,552    $45,683
Average household Income       $52,060    $45,159    $60,586
Per capita income       $20,557    $18,496    $23,504
Median Disposable Income       $37,237    $31,422    $39,327
Average Total Household Expenditure    
View
   $44,434    $39,887    $48,284
Sales Tax Rate       0.00%    0.00%    N/A
White Collar Jobs    
View
   73.40%    77.63%    77.62%
Blue Collar Jobs    
View
   26.60%    22.37%    22.38%

 Ethnicity    Details     Bozeman
59718     Montana     National
White       18,363    835,502    220,410,670
African American       55    2,752    36,105,469
Hispanic       310    20,183    41,920,073
Native American, Eskimo, Aleut       187    57,322    2,600,793
Asian / Pacific Islander       136    4,796    10,749,549
Hawaiian / Pacific Islander       9    480    421,387
Other       73    5,434    16,236,219

 Education    Details     Bozeman
59718     Montana     National
Less than 9th Grade       222    26,325    14,514,020
Some High School       633    52,526    23,112,818
High School Graduate       2,595    192,179    54,786,296
Some College       3,407    157,741    40,471,529
Associate Degree       628    36,165    12,130,687
Bachelors Degree       3,345    105,574    29,832,500
Graduate Degree       1,493    44,280    16,989,492

 Climate    Details     Bozeman
59718     Montana     National
Average January High Temperature       33.20ºF    30.31ºF    N/A
Average January Low Temperature       12.00ºF    8.39ºF    N/A
Average July High Temperature       81.80ºF    83.16ºF    N/A
Average July Low Temperature       48.80ºF    50.70ºF    N/A
Annual Precipitation       16.45    14.58    N/A
Earthquake Risk       188    107    100
Weather Risk    
View
   3    6    100
Air Pollution Index    
View
   103    103    100

 Crime    Details     Bozeman
59718     Montana     National
Total Crime Risk       64    87    100
Personal Crime Risk    
View
   35    71    100
Property Crime Risk    
View
   78    90    100

 Residential    Details     Bozeman
59718     Montana     National
Average Home Sale Price       $216,138    $172,838    N/A
Homes Owned       5,105    260,522    75,549,837
Homes Rented       2,421    112,626    37,158,828
Vacant Homes       469    56,145    11,188,263
Median Dwelling Age (Years)       13    29    29
Median Years in Residence       2.43    2.80    3.32
Annual Residential Turnover       26.52%    20.26%    17.63%
Median Travel Time to Work       14.20    13.40    20.70
Transportation to Work: Public       0.00%    1.00%    5.00%
Transportation to Work: Drive / Carpool       88.00%    86.00%    88.00%
Transportation to Work: Walk / Bike / Other       5.00%    7.00%    4.00%
Transportation to Work: Work at Home       7.00%    6.00%    3.00%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

City Profile Report Results     
City snapshot: Dallas, Texas
Zip: 75246
County: Dallas County
About our data

 Demographics    Details     Dallas
75246     Texas     National
Population    
View
   4,448    22,508,240    293,686,994
Population Change Since 1990       24.00%    33.00%    18.00%
Population Density       6,822    85    N/A
Male       2,560    11,197,209    144,444,127
Female       1,887    11,311,031    149,242,867
Never Married       1,480    4,394,562    62,792,930
Married       952    9,013,097    118,602,595
Separated       651    1,214,551    13,541,406
Widowed       217    1,713,938    23,102,252
Divorced       254    944,563    14,955,501
Number of households    
View
   1,616    8,216,915    112,708,665
Average Household Size       2.49    2.67    2.54
Median Age    
View
   30.38    32.20    35.17

 Income and Jobs    Details     Dallas
75246     Texas     National
Median Household Income    
View
   $29,971    $43,525    $45,683
Average household Income       $49,460    $58,307    $60,586
Per capita income       $18,744    $21,502    $23,504
Median Disposable Income       $26,932    $37,698    $39,327
Average Total Household Expenditure    
View
   $45,130    $46,937    $48,284
Sales Tax Rate       8.25%    6.25%    N/A
White Collar Jobs    
View
   83.33%    76.98%    77.62%
Blue Collar Jobs    
View
   16.67%    23.02%    22.38%

 Ethnicity    Details     Dallas
75246     Texas     National
White       1,858    15,975,143    220,410,670
African American       591    2,595,579    36,105,469
Hispanic       2,652    7,891,477    41,920,073
Native American, Eskimo, Aleut       42    127,765    2,600,793
Asian / Pacific Islander       133    606,988    10,749,549
Hawaiian / Pacific Islander       2    15,581    421,387
Other       1,704    2,631,670    16,236,219

 Education    Details     Dallas
75246     Texas     National
Less than 9th Grade       928    1,595,049    14,514,020
Some High School       450    1,795,183    23,112,818
High School Graduate       325    3,458,173    54,786,296
Some College       443    3,110,890    40,471,529
Associate Degree       97    727,475    12,130,687
Bachelors Degree       403    2,171,520    29,832,500
Graduate Degree       227    1,062,549    16,989,492

 Climate    Details     Dallas
75246     Texas     National
Average January High Temperature       55.40ºF    57.51ºF    N/A
Average January Low Temperature       36.40ºF    32.65ºF    N/A
Average July High Temperature       96.10ºF    94.32ºF    N/A
Average July Low Temperature       76.80ºF    70.57ºF    N/A
Annual Precipitation       37.05    31.42    N/A
Earthquake Risk       24    25    100
Weather Risk    
View
   241    187    100
Air Pollution Index    
View
   103    95    100

 Crime    Details     Dallas
75246     Texas     National
Total Crime Risk       380    127    100
Personal Crime Risk    
View
   295    119    100
Property Crime Risk    
View
   441    128    100

 Residential    Details     Dallas
75246     Texas     National
Average Home Sale Price       $177,287    $169,238    N/A
Homes Owned       212    5,341,266    75,549,837
Homes Rented       1,404    2,875,649    37,158,828
Vacant Homes       247    849,350    11,188,263
Median Dwelling Age (Years)       39    23    29
Median Years in Residence       2.01    2.85    3.32
Annual Residential Turnover       30.01%    20.39%    17.63%
Median Travel Time to Work       22.40    20.80    20.70
Transportation to Work: Public       8.00%    2.00%    5.00%
Transportation to Work: Drive / Carpool       83.00%    92.00%    88.00%
Transportation to Work: Walk / Bike / Other       6.00%    3.00%    4.00%
Transportation to Work: Work at Home       4.00%    3.00%    3.00%

[zahc]

CCW permits all around

Montana has Vermont carry.

zahc, what would the reason be for moving?

Graduate school.

Summary:

Dallas more money
Extremely good facilities

Bozeman less money, but probably the difference in good housing, health insurance
I spent a summer internship there/familliarity/connections

Most important thing is I don't want to live in a depressingly urban environment, I mean a nice city would be one thing....

In Bozeman one can dash out and be in the mountains fairly quick, and nobody bothers you about anything. I spent the summer doing things that I would never get away with in Ohio (nothing bad mind you). I don't know anything at all about Dallas.

Bad skiing. Lakes. An ocean. Lakes the size of oceans. Hog hunting. Wimmen.

And big bass

[BozemanMT]

Bozeman (like you thought I was going to say Dallas)

Once you live in a small town, living in a big town sucks. (and actually Bozeman is the 4th biggest town in Montana)
It's a college town, so there's tons to do, lots of good restaurants, but still the whole valley only has 80,000 people.  (flipping longmont has more people than that)

Taxes are higher in some respects, lower in others.  Housing isn't cheap.  you get used to teh weather (although minus 35 is pretty damn cold)  It gets up to 90's plus in the summer.
It's phenomoly beautiful, just amazing.

Dallas is another big town.

I'd be on the moving truck in 20 minutes (in fact, i have, I'd go back in a heartbeat)

[Modifiedbrowning]

I thought it was being over-run by leftists from California.

We do have our share of liberals and hippies in the Bozone, but we aren't being over run just yet.
I vote for Bozeman of course.

[Antibubba]

Herr Hare said, concerning Texas:

We used to be our own country. Might be again, if they keep poking at us.

Uh huh.  The only other country you might become is Mexico.  Ask Senor Jorge Bush if you doubt it.

[gunsmith]

Montanna in a heartbeat

[Jamisjockey]

I despise Texas.  I'd rather live in hell, but Montana would be a better choice.

[auschip]

I despise Texas.  I'd rather live in hell, but Montana would be a better choice.

That's funny, Texas and I were talking and we would rather you lived in hell also.   


Yes, I am kidding.