Living in a huge metropolitan city like Dallas is amazing. You never run out of things to do, and opportunities abound. But at some point, many of us (including me) want the advantages a city like the DFW Metroplex without all of the downsides that come with the urban life.
Current Average Apartment Pricing for Dallas
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,367 | $556 | $5,124 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,530 | $155 | $10,000+ |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,017 | $643 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,712 | $765 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $4,894 | $1,243 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $9,969 | $5,860 | $10,000+ |
And believe me, I'd know. For more than 30 years, I've been living my very best life in DFW. As a young single, a college student, a mom with a young family, and now, semi-retired and living in the country near Dallas. I've rented apartments and houses, and owned homes and acreage.
I've also logged more windshield hours on I-30, LBJ Freeway (635), Highway 80, Central Expressway, and on and on. So it goes without saying (although I'll say it), I know this area inside and out. And at this stage of my life, I like to live outside the city.
I'm Tiff, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Dallas and surrounding cities. In this guide, I'm going to highlight one city on every side of Dallas.
Rockwall
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,330 | $785 | $1,762 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,425 | $600 | $2,971 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,854 | $713 | $3,509 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,334 | $1,467 | $4,007 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $3,440 | $2,038 | $6,818 |
Rockwall is located east of Dallas, on Lake Ray Hubbard. A true lakeside suburb that truly gives you the lake living you crave. And it's very upscale.
I moved to Rockwall in the early 1990s. My dad and stepmother lived there for 30 years, raising my sisters and running a medical practice. When I lived in Rockwall, it was a little village of sorts. One grocery store. A movie theater. I don't think we even had a Walmart at that time. But my, how things have changed.
Today, the population is about 51,000. And grows by almost 3% per year. The median household income is $115,580, and the median age hovers right around 39.5 years. Rockwall is a great place for families with school-age kids and young couples who love outdoor living.
Why You'll Love Rockwall
Rockwall is the kind of place where people pull their lawn chairs out to the Harbor on a Friday night and just sit there watching the sun go down over Lake Ray Hubbard. Rockwall is still small enough that you'll run into your neighbors when you're out and about. Unlike when I lived there, you can now enjoy any type of food you want.
The whole town rallies around the high school football games in the fall, and the Fourth of July fireworks over the lake are a legit event, not just a sad municipal display. Folks in Rockwall tend to be outdoorsy. A lot of people moved there for the lake lifestyle. Kayaks in the garage, morning jogs on the trail, kids fishing off the dock.
What You Need to Know About Rockwall
Rockwall ISD earned an 89 accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency for the 2024-2025 school year. Both Rockwall High School and Rockwall-Heath High School received "A" ratings.
Housing is a mix of single-family rentals and apartment complexes. Most of the newer apartments were built between 2000 and 2019. You can find good rentals for $1,832/month.
Stats:
- Crime: Violent crime rate of 10.1 vs. the national average of 22.7, declining over the last five years.
- Cost of living: 22% above the national average.
- Rental market: About 25% of Rockwall households rent.
- Population growth: Up 18.2% since the 2020 census, growing at about 2.6% annually.
Proximity to Dallas
Rockwall is about 25 miles east of Downtown Dallas, with I-30 serving as the main way for getting into the city. On the best day, it's going to take you half an hour to get anywhere near downtown. And during rush hour, plan for 45 to 55 minutes.
If you need public transit to get into Dallas, you'd have to drive to a DART station in Garland or another nearby city and park there. Like most of Texas, Rockwall is a driving city.
Frisco
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,394 | $935 | $2,244 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,662 | $973 | $10,000+ |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,393 | $1,255 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $3,077 | $1,444 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $4,012 | $2,217 | $10,000+ |
I remember when Frisco used to be farmland. Nothing but open fields and the occasional run-down gas station. But now, Frisco has turned into one of the most talked-about cities in the entire state of Texas. The population is over 250,000, up by 24% since the 2020 census. Frisco is a great community for families who want top-ranked schools or anyone who works near the North Dallas area.
Why You'll Love Frisco
Block parties happen, kids ride bikes to their friends houses, library programs are packed every Saturday. When I go to Frisco (see Ikea below), I always feel an upbeat vibe.
The food scene is sneaky good, too. There are Korean spots, Indian restaurants, taco joints, and anything else you find yourself craving. Also, there's an Ikea. So there's that. That's what I make a drive for.
Lots of people rent in Frisco. The city's own data shows about 36% of housing is by renters, and median rents run around $1,751. Rental costs in Frisco have dropped thanks to lots of new apartment construction.
What You Need to Know About Frisco
Frisco ISD is one of the top-performing school districts in North Texas. Schools in Frisco average an "A" rating on SchoolGrade, with 59% proficiency versus the 57% projected average.
Housing options are split between apartments (lots of them) and single-family rentals in planned communities. Major corporations are in Frisco, the PGA of America headquarters and several Fortune 500 offices that have relocated here in recent years.
Stats:
- Crime: Safer than 69% of Texas cities. Total crime decreased 23% year-over-year.
- Cost of living: Roughly in line with the national average for everyday expenses, though housing runs higher
- Rental market: 36.3% of Frisco housing is renter-occupied; significant new apartment construction has kept the market balanced
- Population growth: Up 24% since 2020, with a 3.3% annual growth rate
Proximity to Dallas
Frisco is about 30 miles north of Downtown Dallas. On the Dallas North Tollway or US-75, you're looking at 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. During rush hour, it can be an hour or longer. Just plan on getting a toll tag if you're going to be renting in Frisco. I wouldn't even attempt to commute without taking the tollway.
Frisco doesn't have its own DART light rail station, but there's been a lot of ongoing buzz about bringing DART service into the area. The good news is that there's a light rail station in downtown Plano and one in downtown Carrollton. You can park at those stations and ride the rail into Dallas for the easiest commute ever. Several DART bus routes also connect Frisco to the wider transit network.
Duncanville
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $972 | $922 | $1,118 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,290 | $729 | $2,938 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,587 | $999 | $4,747 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $1,774 | $1,325 | $5,021 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,656 | $1,656 | $1,656 |
Duncanville is one of those cities in the greater DFW area that doesn't get the same attention as the newer suburbs, but it has something they don't. Affordability that's hard to beat this close to Dallas. The population is about 38,500, and median household income is $76,457.
Duncanville is an excellent pick if you're on a tight budget. And great for young professionals who need to commute into the city. Families love the area, too. It's not upscale like some of the other cities in this guide, but it's a great area in a good location.
Why You'll Love Duncanville
Duncanville is a suburb with deep working-class roots. You'll find families who've lived in the same house for 30 years next door to young renters just getting started. The local taco trucks are no joke, and Armstrong Park on a Saturday afternoon is the place to be. Fourth of July fireworks like you wouldn't believe!
The median gross rent is about $1,698, but you can easily find nice one bedrooms under $1,200. That puts Duncanville firmly in the "most affordable" category on this list.
Most of the apartments date to the 1970s and 1980s, so you're not going to find the sparkling new luxury complexes like you see in Frisco. But you'll find clean places to live that are well-maintained.
What You Need to Know About Duncanville
Duncanville ISD has a mixed reputation. The district is known statewide for its powerhouse athletics programs, like the Duncanville Panthers boys' basketball team that's won multiple state championships. But academic ratings have lagged behind some of our other featured cities on this list.
Stats:
- Crime: Total crime rate of 2,586 per 100,000, about 22% above the national average. Violent crime is below the state average, property crime run higher.
- Cost of living: Index of 101. Just 1% above the national average, very affordable for DFW.
- Rental market: About 35% of households are rented, lots of inventory and a loose market.
- Population growth: Slight decline of about 0.85% annually.
Proximity to Dallas
Duncanville is about 13 miles southwest of Downtown Dallas. So it's one of the closest cities to the city center on this list. And it's an easy straight shot via US-67 or I-20. With good traffic, you're in Downtown in 20 to 30 minutes. You're not gonna get that from Frisco!
Limited public transportation. Most residents drive. The upside is that you're so close to Dallas, the commute is still a lot smoother than what people in Frisco or Rockwall deal with. DFW International Airport is about 30 minutes away via SH-360 or I-20.
Southlake
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,125 | $950 | $1,208 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,776 | $950 | $3,782 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,145 | $1,150 | $4,630 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,445 | $1,735 | $4,866 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $22,576 | $10,000 | $10,000+ |
Southlake is the premium pick on this list. No way around it. The population is about 31,600, the median household income more than $250,000. About 94.6% of households are homeowners. So the rental market is extremely tight.
Southlake is the best DFW pick for high-income professionals and families who want the top-rated school district in the state and are happy to pay for it.
Why You'll Love Southlake
Town Square is the heartbeat of the city. It feels like Main Street in a small town. Live music on weekends and a Christmas tree lighting that draws thousands. The Carroll Dragons football program is a dynasty, and Friday Night Lights at Dragon Stadium feel like a small college town.
Outdoor living is amazing, too. The trail system is extensive, the parks impeccably maintained. Plus, the library is one of the best small-city libraries I've ever walked into.
Renting here is where it gets real. The median rent is $3,501. Mostly single-family homes, much more than apartments. Only about 5.4% households in Southlake are renting, so you're looking at a very limited and very expensive market.
What You Need to Know About Southlake
Schools. It's all about the schools. If schools are your number one priority and you can afford to live there, Southlake is the answer.
Carroll ISD is ranked #1 out of 1,196 school districts in Texas. Math proficiency is at 89%, reading proficiency at 89%, and the graduation rate is 99.6%. Both Carroll Senior High School and Carroll High School are National Blue Ribbon Schools. And about 98% of graduates go on to attend college. Average SAT scores exceed state and national averages.
Stats:
- Crime: Total crime rate of 1,032 per 100,000, 51% below the national average..
- Cost of living: Very expensive. Median home values exceed $1 million. This is the most expensive city on this list by a wide margin.
- Rental market: Vacancy rate of only 3.93%, well below the national average of 10%. Extremely tight market with very few apartments available.
- Population growth: Nearly flat at 0.19% annually. The city is essentially built out.
Proximity to Dallas
Southlake is about 25 miles northwest of Downtown Dallas. SH-114 is the main route, feeding into the DFW Airport area before connecting to I-35E to head south into Dallas. Commute times run 30 to 45 minutes outside of rush hour, to over an hour during peak traffic hours.
A lot of Southlake professionals work in Grapevine, Las Colinas, or Westlake, meaning a commute under 20 minutes.
Conclusion
Between my family and friend group, someone I know has put down roots in nearly every surrounding city near Dallas. My dad grew up and went to high school in Old East Dallas, where my grandparents lived for 60 years. All of my siblings also live in various areas of the Metroplex and its neighboring cities, as do both of my adult children.
There is literally almost no area in DFW and surrounding cities that someone in my family or friend group hasn't lived in at one time or another. When you're looking for a way to enjoy the benefits of big-city living but also want a small-town atmosphere, use this guide to choose where in DFW to call home.
