A Dallas resident's perspective on Chicago

The population shift south is putting the Dallas region on the path to becoming the third largest metro in the country, supplanting Chicago.

• But can Dallas really compete with the culture, history and experience of living in Chicago?

Driving the news: The Dallas metro is starting to get more recognition nationally. The bustling and delicious Dallas dining scene has caught the attention of the New York Times.

• And Freakonomics Radio aired two episodes on why everyone is moving to Dallas — well, Frisco.

State of play: Even with Chicago's population losses, the city proper still has more people than Dallas. Dallas and Fort Worth's combined 2.3 million residents fall short of Chicago's nearly 2.7 million.

• The primary drivers of population gains in D-FW are increasing recognition that Fort Worth is great, and suburban sprawl.

Details: The cost of living in Dallas is 16% lower than in Chicago, per Forbes' calculator.

• But Chicago has better green space access, with 98% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park. Just 73% of Dallasites and 61% of Fort Worth residents are within a 10-minute walk to a park.
• And Chicago residents can get away with not having a car because of the excellent train system that runs through the city and to the suburbs.

Reality check: Loving a city is not always about calculations or comparisons. It's about the experiences. Here's what we noticed during a recent visit:

• Chicago has a street festival in at least one of its neighborhoods pretty much every weekend during the summer.

• Pedestrians boldly walk across the middle of a street using a crosswalk and the cars actually stop.
• There are beaches. 🏖️

What we did: Visited Millennium Park. There was a gospel festival during our trip and plenty of handprints left on the Bean.

• Ate our weight in pie at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits and enjoyed delectable pasta at Tortello.
• Tried burritos at Lonesome Rose. The Texans were more impressed with the margaritas.
• Wandered through the Garfield Park Conservatory and wished Dallas had one like it.
• Devoured cheezborgers at Billy Goat Tavern & Grill.

The bottom line: The high in Chicago today is in the mid-80s, the same as the low in Dallas. Make of that what you will.

• Check back in November, though.