All homebuyers have their own ideas about why they consider one area a better place to live than another, but there seem to be four general requirements that top the selection criteria lists of almost all of the homebuyers with whom I work.
Typically the number one item mentioned is top-notch schools. This is followed by "safe" and "nice" place to live requirements. Rounding out the list of general requirements are probability of an acceptable level of property appreciation and relatively low property taxes. These then are the requirements that serve as the criteria for comparing 71 towns and cities within the DFW metroplex to determine which are the best places to buy a home.
As discussed in the Methodology section at the bottom of this page, the metric for evaluating the performance of schools in the various cities/towns within the DFW metroplex are their average campus accountability ratings. Violent and property crime rates indicate which Dallas Fort Worth cities/towns are likely the safest places to live. Percentage of owner occupied homes and population density provide insight into which are the DFW's nicest places to live. Comparisons of annual home value appreciation and property tax rates round out this analysis. Median home prices of previously occupied MLS-listed homes sold during 2010, also shown in the tables below, was not considered in compiling these DFW best places to buy a home rankings, and are provided for information only.
Top ten cities/towns to buy a home in DFW metroplex
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$268,000 |
2.9 |
0.3 |
6.1 |
96.8% |
2,372 |
0.1% |
2.27% |
2 |
Fairview |
$308,000 |
3.0 |
n/a |
n/a |
95.2% |
1,090 |
0.5% |
2.23% |
3 |
Southlake |
$500,000 |
2.8 |
0.5 |
18.8 |
95.8% |
1,200 |
-1.3% |
2.51% |
4 |
Flower Mound |
$259,000 |
2.7 |
0.7 |
7.9 |
92.9% |
1,416 |
-0.2% |
2.15% |
5 |
Sunnyvale |
$282,500 |
2.8 |
n/a |
n/a |
93.7% |
281 |
4.4% |
2.38% |
6 |
Double Oak |
$329,900 |
2.4 |
0.9 |
4.7 |
98.7% |
1,070 |
3.1% |
1.93% |
7 |
Argyle |
$285,000 |
2.6 |
0.3 |
6.5 |
92.0% |
825 |
-0.1% |
2.80% |
8 |
University Park |
$940,000 |
3.0 |
0.5 |
16.6 |
68.5% |
6,396 |
-0.8% |
2.02% |
9 |
Keller |
$275,000 |
2.4 |
0.7 |
12.5 |
92.7% |
2,190 |
-0.1% |
2.60% |
10 |
Allen |
$192,500 |
2.7 |
0.9 |
17.7 |
85.7% |
3,194 |
1.1% |
2.42% |
* Offenses reported per 1,000 residents.
** Residents per square mile. |
Additional information, more related to the needs of a specific individual or family, that might be considered in a "best places to live" analysis is available by clicking on these demographics, and commute times and distances links.
All cities/towns included in "where to buy a DFW home" analysis
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|
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68 |
Addison |
$250,700 |
1.9 |
6.0 |
67.6 |
20.7% |
3,222 |
1.2% |
2.39% |
10 |
Allen |
$192,500 |
2.7 |
0.9 |
17.7 |
85.7% |
3,194 |
1.1% |
2.42% |
59 |
Anna |
$110,000 |
1.8 |
3.7 |
59.8 |
68.4% |
615 |
1.1% |
2.52% |
7 |
Argyle |
$285,000 |
2.6 |
0.3 |
6.5 |
92.0% |
825 |
-0.1% |
2.80% |
69 |
Arlington |
$120,000 |
1.5 |
6.1 |
54.1 |
54.7% |
3,760 |
-1.3% |
2.61% |
50 |
Azle |
$115,000 |
1.6 |
3.0 |
39.1 |
73.4% |
1,239 |
-0.4% |
2.46% |
71 |
Balch Springs |
$63,250 |
1.3 |
7.7 |
84.1 |
58.8% |
2,586 |
-1.0% |
2.80% |
42 |
Bedford |
$155,250 |
2.3 |
3.8 |
35.8 |
55.0% |
4,990 |
0.0% |
2.41% |
54 |
Benbrook |
$128,000 |
1.3 |
1.4 |
21.0 |
66.0% |
1,974 |
-0.3% |
2.61% |
36 |
Burleson |
$125,000 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
30.6 |
75.7% |
1,437 |
-2.2% |
2.88% |
38 |
Carrollton |
$164,800 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
31.9 |
65.7% |
3,293 |
-1.0% |
2.59% |
49 |
Cedar Hill |
$110,000 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
36.4 |
81.0% |
1,290 |
3.4% |
2.73% |
33 |
Celina |
$164,750 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
11.3 |
68.6% |
452 |
2.2% |
2.61% |
65 |
Cockrell Hill |
$57,500 |
1.5 |
0.1 |
11.2 |
66.2% |
7,672 |
-16.1% |
2.67% |
12 |
Colleyville |
$412,000 |
2.2 |
0.1 |
11.2 |
96.6% |
1,736 |
-0.3% |
2.28% |
24 |
Coppell |
$280,000 |
2.3 |
1.1 |
16.7 |
75.8% |
2,702 |
-0.4% |
2.74% |
31 |
Corinth |
$165,000 |
1.9 |
1.3 |
13.7 |
95.4% |
2,529 |
0.3% |
2.69% |
61 |
Crowley |
$106,600 |
1.0 |
2.5 |
26.3 |
76.6% |
1,676 |
-7.1% |
2.80% |
70 |
Dallas |
$170,000 |
1.6 |
7.9 |
55.3 |
43.2% |
3,411 |
0.4% |
2.66% |
60 |
Dalworthington Gardens |
$380,000 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
4.7 |
80.6% |
1,304 |
0.8% |
2.23% |
47 |
Denton |
$137,000 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
26.3 |
41.9% |
1,350 |
2.1% |
2.49% |
56 |
DeSoto |
$113,900 |
1.4 |
3.6 |
35.7 |
72.2% |
2,296 |
5.0% |
2.85% |
6 |
Double Oak |
$329,900 |
2.4 |
0.9 |
4.7 |
98.7% |
1,070 |
3.1% |
1.93% |
55 |
Duncanville |
$89,250 |
1.9 |
5.1 |
45.2 |
71.7% |
3,498 |
0.4% |
2.78% |
43 |
Euless |
$148,000 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
35.3 |
43.8% |
3,385 |
-1.6% |
2.39% |
2 |
Fairview |
$308,000 |
3.0 |
n/a |
n/a |
95.2% |
1,090 |
0.5% |
2.23% |
57 |
Farmers Branch |
$125,000 |
1.8 |
2.7 |
58.4 |
68.0% |
2,593 |
-3.1% |
2.50% |
4 |
Flower Mound |
$259,000 |
2.7 |
0.7 |
7.9 |
92.9% |
1,751 |
-0.2% |
2.15% |
63 |
Fort Worth |
$119,100 |
1.5 |
5.8 |
49.6 |
55.9% |
2,136 |
-0.7% |
2.81% |
13 |
Frisco |
$236,000 |
2.5 |
1.0 |
19.0 |
81.3% |
1,738 |
1.9% |
2.18% |
45 |
Garland |
$99,500 |
2.0 |
2.8 |
41.6 |
65.6% |
4,017 |
-1.3% |
2.58% |
41 |
Glenn Heights |
$91,200 |
1.6 |
2.8 |
20.3 |
71.4% |
1,876 |
9.2% |
2.76% |
53 |
Grand Prairie |
$119,500 |
1.7 |
3.2 |
48.2 |
61.2% |
2,121 |
1.3% |
2.27% |
29 |
Grapevine |
$235,000 |
2.3 |
1.6 |
33.2 |
65.0% |
1,336 |
-0.9% |
2.91% |
62 |
Haltom City |
$78,250 |
1.5 |
3.4 |
47.5 |
59.5% |
3,183 |
-0.3% |
2.70% |
22 |
Heath |
$400,875 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
10.2 |
94.9% |
679 |
6.1% |
2.20% |
34 |
Hickory Creek |
$217,931 |
1.8 |
0.5 |
22.6 |
90.6% |
821 |
3.7% |
2.37% |
16 |
Highland Park |
$1,095,000 |
2.6 |
1.0 |
27.1 |
80.7% |
3,844 |
5.1% |
1.96% |
1 |
Highland Village |
$268,000 |
2.9 |
0.3 |
6.1 |
96.8% |
2,372 |
0.1% |
2.27% |
40 |
Hurst |
$128,000 |
2.5 |
4.9 |
60.3 |
66.1% |
3,864 |
-2.0% |
2.50% |
64 |
Irving |
$129,825 |
1.6 |
3.0 |
41.6 |
37.2% |
3,148 |
-0.7% |
2.66% |
9 |
Keller |
$275,000 |
2.4 |
0.7 |
12.5 |
92.7% |
2,190 |
-0.1% |
2.60% |
48 |
Lake Dallas |
$132,000 |
1.8 |
3.9 |
24.6 |
73.1% |
3,802 |
4.7% |
2.65% |
67 |
Lancaster |
$85,000 |
1.1 |
n/a |
n/a |
65.6% |
1,270 |
2.8% |
2.90% |
37 |
Lewisville |
$161,250 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
34.6 |
53.9% |
2,260 |
-0.4% |
2.14% |
17 |
Little Elm |
$141,850 |
2.2 |
0.7 |
8.3 |
82.7% |
1,307 |
0.1% |
2.48% |
23 |
Lucas |
$382,000 |
2.3 |
n/a |
n/a |
94.5% |
453 |
-1.3% |
2.05% |
27 |
Mansfield |
$166,250 |
2.0 |
2.3 |
23.9 |
86.6% |
1,553 |
0.9% |
2.84% |
26 |
McKinney |
$175,000 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
25.3 |
70.2% |
2,017 |
-0.1% |
2.44% |
11 |
Melissa |
$155,000 |
2.8 |
0.8 |
16.3 |
81.8% |
464 |
-0.2% |
2.48% |
58 |
Mesquite |
$80,100 |
1.8 |
4.0 |
50.7 |
65.5% |
3,010 |
0.1% |
2.68% |
15 |
Murphy |
$239,950 |
2.2 |
0.6 |
8.2 |
96.1% |
2,425 |
-0.1% |
2.24% |
52 |
North Richland Hills |
$140,100 |
1.8 |
2.7 |
30.8 |
67.1% |
3,642 |
-0.1% |
2.62% |
19 |
Parker |
$402,450 |
2.1 |
0.0 |
7.8 |
93.8% |
469 |
-0.3% |
2.06% |
35 |
Plano |
$216,750 |
2.3 |
1.7 |
29.3 |
68.8% |
3,668 |
0.2% |
2.17% |
25 |
Prosper |
$335,000 |
2.1 |
0.2 |
11.5 |
85.0% |
554 |
1.5% |
2.48% |
30 |
Richardson |
$179,000 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
34.8 |
64.4% |
3,534 |
-0.8% |
2.60% |
66 |
Richland Hills |
$66,083 |
1.0 |
1.4 |
44.3 |
70.3% |
2,676 |
-0.2% |
2.57% |
44 |
River Oaks |
$55,000 |
1.8 |
1.4 |
21.3 |
75.5% |
3,614 |
-5.2% |
2.94% |
39 |
Roanoke |
$138,750 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
31.6 |
66.2% |
1,417 |
-10.1% |
2.02% |
18 |
Rockwall |
$179,900 |
2.3 |
1.2 |
27.7 |
76.5% |
1,408 |
1.5% |
2.36% |
28 |
Rowlett |
$134,000 |
2.0 |
1.1 |
19.0 |
92.2% |
2,701 |
0.1% |
2.62% |
20 |
Sachse |
$161,000 |
2.0 |
0.7 |
11.0 |
88.8% |
1,927 |
-2.0% |
2.58% |
51 |
Saginaw |
$110,000 |
1.6 |
2.4 |
28.0 |
79.1% |
2,510 |
-0.6% |
2.61% |
3 |
Southlake |
$500,000 |
2.8 |
0.5 |
18.8 |
95.8% |
1,200 |
-1.3% |
2.51% |
5 |
Sunnyvale |
$282,500 |
2.8 |
n/a |
n/a |
93.7% |
281 |
4.4% |
2.38% |
32 |
The Colony |
$135,000 |
2.0 |
1.2 |
15.6 |
82.5% |
2,525 |
0.8% |
2.39% |
14 |
Trophy Club |
$247,500 |
2.3 |
0.7 |
10.0 |
88.6% |
1,852 |
3.0% |
2.36% |
8 |
University Park |
$940,000 |
3.0 |
0.5 |
16.6 |
68.5% |
6,369 |
-0.8% |
2.02% |
46 |
Watauga |
$97,000 |
1.8 |
4.2 |
24.2 |
85.5% |
5,839 |
-1.4% |
2.64% |
21 |
Wylie |
$144,000 |
2.1 |
0.6 |
16.6 |
82.7% |
1,073 |
-0.5% |
2.87% |
* Offenses reported per 1,000 residents.
** Residents per square mile. |
Methodology
Five factors were considered for determining which DFW metroplex cities and towns are the best places to buy a home: education, safety, desirability, property appreciation and property taxes.
Each city/town included in the study was measured against seven evaluation criteria that were selected to reflect these five factors. Within each evaluation category, the top rated city/town was awarded the maximum points allocated to that category and bottom rated city/town received zero points. All other cities/towns were awarded a proportional number of points based on how their individual scores compared to the score of the top rated city/town. Scores from all seven evaluation categories were then added together for each city/town and then divided by the total possible points to arrive at an overall total score.
Crime statistics were not available or only partially available for Fairview, Lancaster, Lucas and Sunnyvale. While these cities/towns were credited with no points in the safety categories, total possible points for each of these cities/towns also were reduced accordingly.
Education: 100 points
Based on the Texas Education Agency 2009-2010 accountability ratings of the public schools by attended students in a city/town. Campuses with an exemplary rating were awarded three points, a recognized rating merited two points, an academically acceptable rating was given one point and an academically unacceptable rating received zero points. Total points for all campuses attended by students in the city/town were then divided by the number of campuses serving the city/town to arrive at average campus accountability rating. Sources: Texas Education Agency and North Texas Real Estate Information Systems.
Safety: 50 points
Based on Federal Bureau of Investigation 2009 statistics for eight types of offenses: murder and negligent homicide, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault (violent crimes), and burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and larceny (property crimes). The crime statistics shown above for each city/town are the number of incidents reported per 1,000 residents living there. Thirty points were allocated to violent crimes category and twenty points were allocated to property crimes category. Source: 2009 Annual Uniform Crime Report.
Desirability: 60 points
Based on percentage of owner occupied homes and population density. The city/town with the highest percentage of owner occupied homes was awarded fifty points. Cities/towns with a population density of more than than 1,000 residents per square mile and less than 2,500 residents per square mile received ten points. The logic employed in awarding points in the population density category was that cities/towns with less than 1,000 residents per square mile are less likely than more densely populated cities/towns to have the neighborly feel or the shopping and other similar amenities desired by most homebuyers. Cities/towns with population density in excess of 2,500, on the other hand, are often perceived to have significant traffic and other similar problems and feel somewhat crowded. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2000 census - percentage owner occupied homes) and North Texas Regional Council of Governments (cities/towns sizes and average population derived from population estimates on January 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010).
Property Appreciation: 20 points
Based on the difference between the weighted average price per square foot of MLS-listed existing single family homes sold in 2009 and 2010. Source: North Texas Real Estate Information Systems.
Property Taxes: 20 points
Based on the prevailing 2010 property tax rate not including any exemptions for each city/town. For additional information about the taxing jurisdictions and school, city and county property rates that result in the above combined tax rates, click on this DFW Property Tax Rates link. Source: Collin, Dallas, Denton,Rockwall and Tarrant central appraisal districts.
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