DFW Relocation Guide > From Illinois
Moving to DFW from Illinois?
Save +$6,000/yr per year with 0% state income tax (vs 4.95% in Illinois). DFW median home: $304,500 vs $320,000 in Illinois. Here's everything you need to know.
Illinois vs DFW: Cost of Living
Want detailed calculations? Our Cost of Living Calculator compares taxes, utilities, groceries, and take-home pay.Available on Basic plan →
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Homes for Sale in DFW
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DFW Neighborhoods Compared
All 24 cities by price, schools, safety
Companies Moving to DFW
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Top DFW School Districts
#1 in Tarrant County, 99% grad rate
Fastest-growing large district, 76 campuses
Single high school, 98% grad rate
#1 public HS in TX (School for Talented & Gifted)
Highly diverse, strong international programs
Booming enrollment, brand new campuses
Compare 10 ISDs side-by-side: test scores, AP courses, teacher ratios, SAT averages. School District Deep Diveavailable on Realtor plan →
Safest DFW Suburbs
See crime trends by type, year-over-year changes, and national comparisons. Neighborhood Safety Dashboardavailable on Realtor plan →
Commute & Transportation
DFW spans 9,000+ sq miles. DART rail covers Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Carrollton. TRE connects Dallas ↔ Fort Worth. Most suburban commutes: 25-45 minutes by car. No rail to Frisco, Southlake, Arlington, McKinney.
Downtown Dallas
Plano: 25-40 min
Legacy West (Plano)
Frisco: 10-20 min
Las Colinas (Irving)
Coppell: 10-15 min
Fort Worth Downtown
Arlington: 20-30 min
Calculate exact commute times from any DFW address to 7 major employment hubs. Commute Time Calculatoravailable on Realtor plan →
Illinois vs DFW: Weather
No more -20°F windchill. DFW winters are 50-60°F. You might miss fall foliage but gain 232 sunny days. Summers are hotter but less humid than Chicago August.
Job Market
DFW and Chicago compete for corporate HQs - Boeing, Caterpillar, and others have moved TX offices. Similar industries (finance, tech, logistics) but TX has the tax advantage.
DFW Market Snapshot
Median Home
$304,500
YoY Growth
+3.2%
Avg Cap Rate
5.2-6.8%
Avg Days on Market
38 days
Full market intelligence: supply, absorption rates, seasonal trends. DFW Market Intelligence DashboardTruReport plan →
Run full ROI analysis on any DFW property. Investment Property ROI AnalyzerTruReport plan →
Common Concerns from Illinois Relocators
Property taxes seem high in TX?
Yes, DFW property taxes (1.8-2.4%) are higher than IL average, BUT there is no income tax. Net tax burden is still lower for most families. You can also protest your appraisal annually.
Are the suburbs as good as the North Shore?
Plano, Frisco, Southlake rival any Chicago suburb for schools and safety. Carroll ISD (Southlake) and Frisco ISD are A+ rated.
What about public transit?
DART rail covers Dallas to Plano/Richardson. But DFW is car-first - similar to suburban Chicago. Gas and insurance are cheaper here.
Working Remote?
DFW northern suburbs have AT&T Fiber (5 Gbps), Google Fiber (Plano/Allen/Frisco/McKinney), and Spectrum. Check exact availability with our Broadband & Connectivity Map.Realtor plan →
Get Your Personalized DFW Relocation Report
Search any DFW address to get detailed property data, school ratings, crime stats, and neighborhood insights. TruReport plan members can download a complete Relocation Consultant Report for their target city.
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