Choosing a DFW Suburb: A Friendly Field Guide

Dallas–Fort Worth covers a lot of ground, and a map that looks short can mean a long drive at rush hour. Before falling for a kitchen, try the drive to work at the time you'd actually make it.

On Boraak you can drop a pin on your office and search within 10 or 15 miles of it. It's the fastest way to see what's realistic.

This is a friendly overview, not a ranking. Every area has great streets and not-so-great ones.

• North of Dallas (Collin and Denton counties): Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Prosper, Little Elm. Many newer neighborhoods and master-planned communities, often with HOAs.
• Dallas itself: from older neighborhoods with big trees to downtown and uptown apartments. More walkable pockets, more variety.
• Mid-cities: Irving, Grapevine, Euless, Bedford, Arlington. Handy for DFW Airport and for commuting either way.
• Fort Worth and west: Fort Worth, Benbrook, Aledo, Weatherford. More room, and more land and acreage as you head west.
• South and east: Mansfield, Midlothian, Waxahachie, Rockwall, Forney, Garland. Newer growth in many spots.

In Texas, school district lines don't always follow city lines. One city can have homes in two or three districts. If schools matter to you, check which independent school district (ISD) serves the exact address, and look at the Texas Education Agency's school reports. On every Boraak listing, the Neighborhood section lists the nearest public schools from U.S. Department of Education data.

Two homes at the same price can have noticeably different tax bills because the combined rate (city, county, school district and others) differs. Ask for the rates, or check the appraisal district's website before you offer. More in our Texas property tax guide.