I thought I would chime in with some info on the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. My husband and I are both transplants (Alaska & Switzerland). Like any place, there are things we like about living here, and things we could take or leave.
in particular, we like being able to bike and do other outdoor stuff year round. No snow to shovel from the driveway! DFW usually has one or two bad ice days each year, and many Texas drivers don't know how to drive on icy roads, so we usually stay home out of self-preservation. (Didn't do me much good this Feb. though when I slipped on the ice and broke my wrist - but that's another story
).
The heat & humidity take some getting used to - I didn't know what a temperature humidity index was until I moved here - I asked - is that like wind chill factor in reverse (answer: yes).
Cost of living is great - there are no state income taxes, and you can get a lot of house or apartment for your mortgage/rent money.
Within DFW, there are distinct cultures - Dallas - more East or West Coast cosmopolitan feeling. Fort Worth, "Where the West begins", is more laid back, but still has a lot of cultural things to offer (ironically Dallas' ballet went under so now they share the Ft. Worth ballet). There is the "cultural district" with several world-class museums, and the "Stockyards" if you're into the western scene. We prefer Ft. Worth compared to Dallas because there is less traffic congestion, they were able to plan ahead a little bit more in terms of roadways to meet demand, etc.
Most rentals are apartment complexes, but there are older homes near the cultural district that have some architechtural character that are available for rent, as well as new, high-rise apartments in the revitalized downtown area of Ft. Worth. The same is true in Dallas, but the rent will cost you more there. To get a 1-BR newer luxury apartment in a complex in Ft. Worth, you will pay $800+ per month. These are complexes with video screens in the kitchen to show you who is at the gate, free oil changes and workout facilities, etc. to give you a sense of the amenities available. You can buy a nice 3 bedroom home in a good part of town where most of your neighbors will also be younger professionals for $100,000+.
The nice thing about the metroplex is, if you do want to be 30 minutes or so out of town, there is a lot of development around all the edges of the metro are (which is very large) - so anything you want you can probably find in terms of location. But the mass transit system is not that great and commutes can be killer - I just lost my job (yesterday - out on disability and they decided they were getting along fine without me and eliminated my position) - and when i am job hunting, things that monster.com says are 24 miles from my home would be 1-1.5 hour commutes each way. You have to allow about 30 minutes for each 10-15 miles at peak rushhour times (7-9 Am and 4-6:30 PM).
Hope this helps! I empathize with your feeling in limbo - what I have done in the past when we were thinking of moving was check out apartment websites to check out rents and floor plans, and real estate listings. It's hard when you don't know if you are looking at something that is in the area you want to be in, but it can help you establish a range of costs. Also, most major cities have websites (I know Dallas and Fort Worth do) that are a great way to get introduced to their cultural activities and to get a feel for the area. Also try looking at the websites for the local papers of whatever city you are considering - you'll get a sense of what the local culture and issues are.
Good luck! I can say that although we ended up in Texas due to circumstance as much as anything, and there is a good chance we will not be here forever, it has a lot to commend itself if you can approach it from the standpoint of looking for the unique things it has to offer.
Of course, I wasn't born here, either. 
