Fort Worth, on the other hand, is much more than a smaller version of Dallas - and much different than Dallas too. It's the 19th largest city in the U.S. and was also named one of "America's Most Livable Communities." A thriving city of both rich culture and commerce, Fort Worth is home to museums, universities, and more than 600,000 people call "Cowtown" home.

   Together, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan area is the eight-largest in the U.S. with more than five million people.

HOMES AND REAL ESTATE

The housing and real estate market continues to thrive in Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth

EDUCATION & HEALTH

Between its universities, colleges, trade schools, public schools & private schools, there are plenty of resources for those relocating to the DFW Metroplex. Dallas is home to the 12th largest school district in the nation and serves a 351 square mile area and 11 municipalities. About 161,000 students were enrolled for the 2003-04 school year, and the district employs more than 19,000 professional support personnel. Education in Fort Worth includes 21 school districts, including Fort Worth ISD with 144 schools and a total enrollment of 79,576 for the 2005-06 school year. There are also 43 colleges and universities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, including Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas Baptist University, and Texas Christian University.

The DFW metroplex is also known for its stellar healthcare resources and is home to 60 hospitals, 13,000 beds, and 5,800 physicians. Parkland Memorial Hospital and Baylor University Medical Center are nationally recognized hospitals, ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News and Worth Report. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center counts four Nobel laureates on its staff, and is considered 'the crown jewel' of the UT medical system.

ART, MUSIC, CULTURE, SPORTS & FUN

Arts, music and culture are synonymous with the DFW metroplex, and there's plenty to do and see. Casa Manana, Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, the Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet Company, Hip Pocket Theatre, Bass Performance Hall and many more organizations offer lots of opportunities for artsy experiences.

Love the outdoors? Dallas has 21,000 acres of park land, 406 parks, 17 lakes, more than 60 miles of biking and jogging trails, 60 public swimming pools, six public golf courses, and much more. Fort Worth boasts 205 parks, 15 libraries, 12 public golf courses and more.

Of course, there's no shortage of sports either. With teams in every major sports league, fans basically have their pick of events. The Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, the MLS' FC Dallas soccer team, and the Dallas Stars are all huge draws and hot tickets nearly every night.

In Fort Worth, the Kimbell Art Museum is world famous and the Omnimax Theater at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and Natural History is a popular attraction for both adults and kids.

DALLAS/FORT WORTH BUSINESS

The DFW area is home to about 140,000 businesses and 6,000 corporate headquarters. Dallas has become home to many well-known companies, and it is known for its big attraction to young, up and coming professionals who flock to the city each year to start their careers. The area's geographic location in the middle of the country and its easy access to points all over the world have made it very attractive for both small and large employers, and relocating families.