The Lone Star State has many large and exciting cities, including Houston, Dallas, Austin, and beyond. These cities have lots to offer, including one-of-a-kind culture, award-winning restaurants, beaming nightlife, great jobs, and more.
But what if you’re not up for living in a non-stop bustling city but still want all the perks of a metropolis? Fortunately, within these cities are smaller neighborhoods that pull you out of the big-city madness and offer a more small-town feel. (While still remaining close to the city so you can enjoy all it has to offer.)
If you’re moving to Texas or simply want to learn more about this growing state, you’ll have plenty to discover with these Texas neighborhood spotlights. Join us as we delve into two of the state’s largest cities to reveal neighborhoods that are within the city limits without being in the midst of it all.
Big City: Dallas, Texas
Dallas gained its first settler in 1841, a Tennessee-based lawyer and trader named John Neely Bryan, who built the first-ever cabin on a riverbank. More settlers followed, and they laid out a formal town in 1844. Today, Dallas is a bustling metropolis with a population of over 1.2 million people. It’s also the ninth-largest city in the U.S.
Living near the city is great if you enjoy shopping or the nightlife, but living in the city isn’t for everyone. While no area is perfect, these smaller neighborhoods within the Dallas metro area give you big-city convenience with a slightly small-town vibe.
Texas Neighborhood Spotlight: Highland Park
Highland Park is home to Southern Methodist University, but its true character is in its peaceful streets and beautiful homes. Here are some highlights.
Parks
If you’re a park or trail lover, you’ll love Highland Park. Here are just some of the top finds for the great outdoors:
- Flippen Park: This small yet gorgeous park features a wonderful gazebo where you can sit back and take in all the sites, including a fountain, a reflecting pool, and the surrounding lands. It’s also an excellent venue to host weddings and other events.
- Lakeside Park: Sitting on over 14 acres of land, Lakeside Park offers beautifully manicured grounds, clear walking paths for exercise or a romantic walk around the grounds, and plenty of benches to rest and take in the spectacular views. You can also head across the Turtle Creek Dam bridge and take in even more wonderful sites.
- Katy Trail: This repurposed 19th-century railroad bed became the 3.5-mile-long Katy Trail in 2000. It features well-maintained pathways that are ideal for running, walking, or biking. The trail also hosts several events throughout the year, such as the Katy 5k and Katy Trail Art, offering plenty of options for people in the Highland Park Area.
Things to Do
Highland Park is about more than just the outdoors. It has a wide range of fantastic cuisine from around the world, including Italian, American, Tex-Mex, and more. If seafood is more your style, check out the highly rated Cafe Pacific.
If you’re looking for nightlife, there’s easy access to Uptown or Downtown to take in city life. However, Highland Park has some highly rated bars and restaurants for a nice evening out. If shopping’s more you’re thing, you’ve got options, including Mockingbird Station’s contemporary shops and Highland Park Village, which is the oldest outdoor mall in America.
Schools
Highland Park is home to numerous public and private schools. For younger kids, six elementary schools exist. The lowest rated of these schools is Indian Trail, which Great Schools rated 5 out of 10. Earning a 7 out of 10 are Red Oak, Sherwood, and Ravinia elementary schools. The top-rated elementary schools in Highland Park are Braeside and Wayne Thomas, each receiving 9 out of 10 ratings from Great Schools.
Middle schools falter slightly in Highland Park, with its two institutions, Edgewood and Northwood, each receiving a 5 out of 10 rating. Fortunately, Highland Park High School offers a slight rebound, earning a 7 out of 10 from Great Schools.
Real Estate
Real estate and housing in Highland Park has been in a boom since around August 2020. Zillow notes the average home value shot up from just under $1.6 million to around $2.5 million as of June 2023. Highland Park has 3,787 housing units available as of August 2023. Of those units, 3,273 are occupied, and most, 2,764, are homeowner occupied. Of the remaining homes, only 509 are renter occupied, and the remainder are vacant.
Texas Neighborhood Spotlight: Prestonwood
The family friendly Prestonwood district offers a small-town feel while remaining closely connected to the larger city of Dallas. This coveted section of the northern part of Dallas is renowned for its safety, affordability, and highly rated education system.
Parks
Prestonwood has plenty for the young ones to do, including three great parks. One of these parks is the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. While it’s not exactly the great outdoors, it’s certainly a place where kids can spend hours burning off their excess energy.
Things to Do
Do you like to shop? Prestonwood has two shopping centers, including Prestonwood Town Center and Prestonwood Place. Both shopping centers are outdoors and offer various restaurants, shops, and more.
If you’re community minded, Prestonwood will be right up your alley. The community often comes together to develop live events, so you’ll rarely struggle to find something to do involving your friends and neighbors. You can also enjoy nearby golf courses.
Schools
Prestonwood falls within the Richardson Independent School District, which is a highly coveted district due to its consistently above-average ratings. Prestonwood has 13 elementary schools within 2 miles of it, but the closest are Barksdale Elementary, Trivium Academy, and Indian Creek Elementary, which received Great School ratings of 7 out of 10, 7 out of 10, and 6 out of 10, respectively.
As for middle schools, Prestonwood is nearby Renner and Arbor Creek Middle School, which received 7 out of 10 ratings. Two high schools are in the area: Hebron High School and Plano West Senior High School. Respectively, these schools received ratings of 6 of 10 and 7 of 10.
Real Estate
Prestonwood is surprisingly affordable for family homes, considering its high ratings. According to Niche, the median home value in the area is $463,610. Renting is also affordable, with a median monthly rent cost of $1,178. Homeowners dominate the housing in the area, as they make up 74% of the occupancy in Prestonwood. As such, it’s worth knowing about ways to conserve energy for new homeowners.
Big City: Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the U.S. and home to over 2.2 million people. This trendy metropolis is known for the arts, great shopping, delicious cuisine, and lively nightlife. While that may sound like fun to visit, you may not want to live amid all the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Houston also has plenty of areas within the city limits that offer a more small-town feel while giving you easy access to this popular Texan city.
Texas Neighborhood Spotlight: Montrose
Located just west of downtown Houston, the 4-square-mile Montrose neighborhood has an eclectic assortment of activities. Montrose is known for free-admission art galleries, community organizations, museums, and restaurants. This “small town in H-town,” as some locals call it, has a little something for everyone.
Parks and Things to Do
If you like to keep things within walking distance, Montrose is an ideal area for you, as many consider it a very walkable town. It also features a wide range of delicious cuisine, and great bars and nightlife. Plus, Montrose borders Buffalo Bayou, a 160-acre park with boat rental, food trucks, and much more.
Schools
Living in Montrose means you’re zoned to three Houston Independent School District schools. The elementary school, Baker Montessori Elementary School, has no Great Schools ratings, but the Texas Education Agency calls it an A-rated school on a scale of A through F. The middle school, Lanier Middle School, received a stellar 9 out of 10 rating from Great Schools. However, the zoned high school, Lamar High School, falters a bit with just a 5 of 10 rating.
Real Estate
Montrose is fairly affordable for a trendy neighborhood, as the median home value is $538,323. Rent is also fair for the area at a median of $1,591 monthly. One unique thing about Montrose is its predominantly rental properties as 56% of the population are renters.
Texas Neighborhood Spotlight: Memorial
Another Texas neighborhood spotlight to shine is on Memorial in West Houston. This small section of Houston is known for its relatively short commutes into town while still offering large, secluded lots with new homes. It also offers easy access to the Houston Energy Corridor for those working there.
Parks and Things to Do
Memorial also has no shortage of things to do. This can range from heading to Memorial City Mall or Town & Country Village for shopping and dining or taking the kiddos to the splash pad at Nottingham Park. You’ll also find ample paved and unpaved hiking trails so you can improve your quality of life with some fresh air and exercise.
Schools
Folks living in Memorial have three zoned schools. The first is Wilchester Elementary School, which Great Schools rates a perfect 10 out of 10. Next is Memorial Middle School, which is a 9 out of 10 on Great Schools. Finally, you have Stratford High School, which earned a 5 out of 10 rating.
Real Estate
Memorial, Texas is home to over 34,000 people and its houses are pricier, with the median home value checking in at $690,022. Rent is still relatively affordable at a median of $1,685 monthly. Homeowners make up the majority (65%) of the residents in Memorial, but it still has a healthy rental market that makes up 35% of occupied dwellings.
Big City Living with a Small-Town Feel
Texas is an enormous state with large metropolises. While big cities like Dallas and Houston offer plenty of activities, amenities, and attractions, it’s worth learning about smaller neighborhoods that can offer a less hectic lifestyle.
While no place is ever 100% perfection, these Texas neighborhood spotlights can give you a clearer picture of what to expect and what day-to-day life might be. Whether you plan to visit these areas or make a more permanent move, knowledge is power. Wherever you land, learn more about electricity and gas company costs to make the most of where you live.
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