The 10 Best Suburbs Near Dallas, Texas in 2027

Direct Answer

The best suburb near Dallas overall is Frisco, where a median home price around $650,000 buys nationally ranked schools, corporate headquarters like the Dallas Cowboys' The Star, and a planned, amenity-rich community 30 miles north of downtown. The best value pick is McKinney, where the median sits near $500,000 with a historic downtown square, strong Collin County schools, and lower prices than its western neighbors.

This list is for families and corporate transplants who want top schools and master-planned living within the booming Collin and Denton county corridor. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has added more people than almost any other region in the country over the past decade, drawing corporate relocations from Toyota to Charles Schwab and pushing growth far up the tollway.

Every suburb below is a real city in the metroplex, ranked on median home price, school ratings, commute, and amenities, with the strongest all-around performer first.

1. Frisco 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Frisco, about 30 miles north of downtown Dallas, is the metroplex's headline boomtown. The median home price is roughly $650,000, and Frisco ISD is one of the highest-rated large districts in Texas, with a graduation rate above 97 percent.

The city packs an unusual density of attractions: The Star (Cowboys headquarters), Toyota Stadium (FC Dallas), the PGA of America headquarters, and the Stonebriar Centre mall. Commutes downtown run 40 to 55 minutes via the Dallas North Tollway. It is best for families and executives who want the metroplex's strongest combination of schools, jobs, and amenities in one place, with new master-planned neighborhoods still rising on the city's northern edge.

2. Plano

Plano, about 20 miles north of downtown, has a median home price near $560,000 and serves as a corporate capital, home to Toyota North America, JPMorgan Chase's regional campus, and Frito-Lay. Plano ISD is A-rated and well established.

Commutes downtown run 30 to 45 minutes, and Plano is served by DART light rail. Legacy West offers walkable dining and retail, and the older neighborhoods carry mature trees and lower prices than the newer northern boomtowns. Plano suits buyers who want a mature, job-dense suburb with rail access rather than the newest construction.

3. McKinney 💎 BEST VALUE

McKinney, about 32 miles north of Dallas, repeatedly tops "best places to live" national lists and offers the best value in the northern corridor, with a median home price near $500,000. Its historic downtown square is the most charming in the metroplex, lined with restored brick storefronts, restaurants, and shops.

McKinney ISD is strongly rated, and the city blends new master-planned neighborhoods with genuine small-town character. Commutes downtown run 40 to 55 minutes via US-75. For buyers who want Frisco-area schools and lifestyle at a meaningfully lower price, McKinney is the standout value.

4. Allen

Allen, about 25 miles north of Dallas, has a median home price near $540,000 and is anchored by Allen High School, whose 18,000-seat Eagle Stadium is a local institution. Allen ISD is A-rated.

The Allen Premium Outlets and a compact, family-friendly footprint make it popular with transplants. Commutes downtown run 35 to 50 minutes. Allen is best for families who want a tight-knit, sports-loving suburb with excellent schools and a shorter commute than Frisco or McKinney.

5. Southlake

Southlake, about 25 miles northwest of Dallas between the two cities, is the metroplex's luxury benchmark, with a median home price near $1.2 million. Carroll ISD is among the top-rated districts in Texas.

Southlake Town Square is an upscale outdoor shopping and dining center, and proximity to DFW Airport is a major draw for frequent flyers. Commutes to either downtown run 30 to 45 minutes. This is the high-end pick for executives who want top schools, airport access, and large estate-style lots.

6. Coppell

Coppell, about 18 miles northwest of Dallas next to DFW Airport, has a median home price near $700,000 and feeds the highly rated Coppell ISD. Its compact size and mature tree canopy give it an established, residential feel.

Commutes downtown run 25 to 40 minutes, among the shortest on this list, and airport access is unbeatable. Coppell suits families and frequent travelers who want top schools and a central metroplex location without the boomtown sprawl of the far north.

7. Prosper

Prosper, about 35 miles north of Dallas, is one of the fastest-growing towns in the country, with a median home price near $700,000 and large new estate-style lots. Prosper ISD is new and highly rated.

Commutes downtown run 45 to 60 minutes via the tollway. Prosper is best for buyers who want the newest construction, larger lots, and a rural-edge feel while staying within reach of Frisco's amenities, with new schools and retail opening every year.

8. Flower Mound

Flower Mound, about 28 miles northwest of Dallas in Denton County, has a median home price near $600,000 and feeds the well-regarded Lewisville ISD. Lake Grapevine and extensive trails give it strong outdoor appeal.

Commutes downtown run 35 to 50 minutes. Flower Mound suits families who want a green, trail-rich suburb with lake access on the metroplex's northwest side, plus a midpoint location between Dallas and Fort Worth.

9. Carrollton

Carrollton, about 16 miles north of Dallas, offers a median home price near $470,000, making it one of the more affordable inner-ring suburbs with DART rail access. It spans three school districts, including parts of Lewisville ISD.

Commutes downtown run 25 to 40 minutes, helped by light rail. Carrollton is best for buyers who want a shorter commute and lower prices than the outer Collin County boomtowns, with an established and diverse community feel.

10. Rockwall

Rockwall, about 22 miles east of Dallas on Lake Ray Hubbard, rounds out the list with a median home price near $480,000 and the metroplex's best in-town lake access. Rockwall ISD is strongly rated.

The Harbor district offers waterfront dining and a marina. Commutes downtown run 30 to 45 minutes via I-30. Rockwall suits buyers who want lakefront living and a relaxed pace on the east side rather than the crowded northern corridor.

What to Know Before You Buy

Texas has no state income tax, which is a primary reason corporations and individuals keep relocating to the metroplex, but property taxes are high, generally 2 to 2.6 percent of assessed value depending on the city and school district. On a $650,000 Frisco home, that can mean a yearly tax bill above $14,000, so the carrying cost is much higher than the mortgage alone suggests.

Several Denton County suburbs carry slightly lower combined rates than the Collin County boomtowns.

The metroplex's growth has been uneven by corridor. The US-75 and Dallas North Tollway spine through Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper holds the most corporate headquarters and the most new construction, while the mid-cities between Dallas and Fort Worth, like Southlake and Coppell, trade on airport proximity and established schools.

Matching your suburb to your employer's corridor is the single biggest factor in keeping a commute reasonable, since cross-metro drives can exceed an hour.

Finally, school-district reputation drives resale value here more than in most markets. Carroll ISD (Southlake) and Frisco ISD command price premiums, so buyers should confirm the exact zoned campus for any home, since district boundaries can split a single subdivision.

How to Choose

• Prioritize schools and target Carroll ISD (Southlake), Coppell ISD, and Frisco ISD, all among the state's top performers.
• Prioritize budget and Carrollton, Rockwall, and McKinney deliver the lowest medians on this list.
• Prioritize commute with inner-ring Coppell and Carrollton, both reachable in 25 to 40 minutes, or use DART rail from Plano and Carrollton.
• Prioritize new construction in Prosper and Frisco, where master-planned communities are still rising.
• Prioritize lifestyle with McKinney's downtown square, Rockwall's lake, or Southlake's luxury retail.

FAQ

Which Dallas suburb has the best schools? Southlake's Carroll ISD and Frisco ISD consistently rank among the top districts in Texas, with graduation rates above 97 percent and strong college-readiness scores.

Which Dallas suburb offers the best value? McKinney offers the strongest value, pairing nationally recognized livability with a median home price near $500,000, well below neighboring Frisco and Southlake.

Which suburb is closest to DFW Airport? Coppell and Southlake both sit adjacent to DFW International Airport, making them the top choices for frequent travelers, with airport access in roughly 10 to 20 minutes.

Do Dallas suburbs have public transit to downtown? DART light rail serves Plano, Carrollton, and several inner-ring suburbs, but the fast-growing northern cities like Frisco, Prosper, and McKinney rely mainly on the Dallas North Tollway and US-75 for car commutes.

Bottom Line

For the best overall combination of schools, jobs, and amenities, Frisco leads the Dallas metroplex at a median near $650,000. For the best value, McKinney pairs top livability with a median around $500,000, well under its western neighbors.

Sources

• Texas Education Agency (TEA) district accountability ratings
• MetroTex Association of Realtors median price data
• Niche.com "Best Suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth" rankings
• Money magazine "Best Places to Live" (McKinney, Frisco)
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) rail maps
• City of Frisco and City of McKinney official sites
• U.S. Census Bureau fastest-growing cities estimates