There’s no question that Dallas and the DFW metroplex is an incredible place full of life and unique experiences, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right place for everyone to live.
Many young couples, growing families, and retirees find the hustle and bustle of the city a bit much for their desired lifestyle and long for a quieter home with small-town charm. On top of that, many are also looking to buy a home within their budget.
While many of Dallas’s popular suburbs offer an escape from the busy downtown, they are often as expensive, if not more, than living in the heart of the city.
This is why many are looking elsewhere for a place to call home.
Here are the best cities to live near Dallas:
Waxahachie, Texas
Waxahachie is in Ellis County and considered one of the best places to live in Texas and near Dallas.
It has a population of 35,376 and is known for having many outdoor parks and a highly-rated school system. Overall, Waxahachie offers residents a dense, suburban feel without all of the drawbacks of city life and most own their own homes. This has led to many beautiful communities and a growing sector of master-planned communities.
Many families and young professionals live in Waxahachie and are either a part of the town’s main industries — education, retail, transportation, and manufacturing — or make the short commute into the city for work.
Here are two reviews of the town written by Waxahachie residents:
“I enjoy the countryside of Waxahachie. I have a nice house with a large front and backyard. I enjoy the peaceful areas outdoors like at my home and the parks and great schools.”
“Extremely friendly, right-sized town. I call it the last stop of civilization until you get to the middle of nowhere, driving south; after you pass us, it’s mostly fields and trees until Houston or Austin. We’re far enough from the city to avoid the chaos, close enough to drive to it on lunch dates. But mostly everything we need is here.”
As you can see, Waxahachie residents really enjoy the slightly “out of the way” location as well as the slower nature of the city. People move to Waxahachie expecting exactly what they experience.
Midlothian, Texas
Midlothian is another quiet city in Ellis County and is actually a close neighbor of Waxahachie. Midlothian is also considered to be one of the best places to live in Texas due to its Grade-A school system and focus on community. It was actually ranked as the second-best place to raise a family in Ellis County.
With a population of 29,743, the city is in the perfect sweet spot between a small town and a big city. Plus, it is only 25 miles from Downtown Dallas.
Just like in Waxahachie, most residents are homeowners and there is an overall big sense of community in the city. Residents here love getting together and planning fun, family-friendly events. MISD (Midlothian Independent School District) is also known for hosting many events throughout the year.
Here are two reviews of the town written by Midlothian residents:
“Midlothian, TX is an excellent community to live in and to raise a family. We have enjoyed the city’s commitment to providing its residents with the amenities desired for everyday living and its commitment to planned growth. In raising a family, the most important things to look for in a community are schools, faith-based opportunities, and convenience. The school system is amazing from elementary to HS and provides children with excellent educational and extracurricular opportunities daily. It also has exceptional programming that meets the needs of students with learning differences. The point is … they are focused on students.”
“I moved to Midlothian when I was in the first grade. Ever since I moved here, I’ve been given many opportunities, from making amazing friends to attending great schools and more. All the schools have teachers that truly care about their students succeeding and are great at what they do. Many of the houses are very nice quality with lots of land or part of housing editions and neighborhoods. There are unique restaurants to the town with many different community activities throughout the year. Mostly all the community members are very friendly, coming from various backgrounds. It is an extremely safe town with low crime rates making it great for new families with small children.”
The city’s sense of community and devotion to family and education is extremely apparent to residents of Midlothian. You can feel the town’s prioritization of family.
Lewisville, Texas
Both a part of Denton County and a suburb of Dallas, Lewisville is considered another one of the best places to live in Texas. Just like Waxahachie and Midlothian, this city offers you amazing small-town charm while being close enough to the city to commute for work or enjoy exciting activities in Dallas, Texas.
With a highly-rated school system, many families are choosing to live in the Lewisville area. This leads to safer neighborhoods and more family-friendly recreational activities. Plus, it has the region’s most retail square footage per capita. This means you won’t always have to drive into the city to get some good shopping done.
Unlike Waxahachie and Midlothian though, this city isn’t 90% homeowners; it is more of a 50/50 split between owners and renters. This brings in more young professionals to the area and gives the city a fresh atmosphere. It also allows for a broader range of apartments and homes for different income levels. For many hopeful residents, it’s nice to know that you don’t immediately have to buy a home if you want to live in Lewisville.
It has ranked #15 out of 415 for the most diverse suburbs in Texas and #18 out of 415 for the best suburbs for young professionals.
Great Cities Near Dallas
If you’re looking for a place to live that prioritizes family, has safe places for your kids to grow up and go to school, and makes it affordable to buy a home, then these cities near Dallas are incredible places for you.
Both Waxahachie and Midlothian offer an amazing sense of community and small-town charm that you may only think exists in movies.
