Nov 25, 2023

A Complete Guide to Southlake, Texas


When people tend to think of the “Beverly Hills” of Dallas, they think of Highland Park. But coming in at close second would be Southlake. It is by no means a big city. It only has a population of 31,000 but just driving through the town makes it seem much bigger than it really is. 


It is decently centrally located at around 27 miles to Dallas, 30 miles to Frisco, and 25 miles to Fort Worth. And with Highway 114 going right through Southlake, it isn’t hard to get around.



Downtown

Whether you want to call it Downtown or Southlake Town Square, it doesn’t matter. But this is really the heart of Southlake. 


Southlake Town Square/ Corner Bakery

More than 120 shops and restaurants. 

130 acres. 

Upscale shopping and a Hilton Hotel. 


Events

Southlake Town Square hosts tons of events throughout the year and are always free and open to the public. 


Master Works
- Live concerts throughout the whole year 


Art in the Square
- Full weekend of local artists showcasing their work. 


Oktoberfest


Home for the Holidays
- Annual Holiday kickoff event complete with free carriage rides, snow tubing, a visit from Santa, and arts and crafts. 


Stars & Stripes
- Fourth of July celebration with food, activities, and a massive fireworks display. 


Celebrate Southlake
- Annual community event with a cake competition, activity booths, and food vendors


Diwali Fest
- All day event celebrating Indian culture and the Festival of Lights. 


Somos Southlake Fiesta
- Annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage. 


Southlake’s History 


Before Southlake was Southlake, it was inhabited by Comanche and Kiowa Native Americans who roamed the lands before settlements began springing up in the 1840s. 


The four original settlements were later incorporated into Southlake, Texas in 1956. 


This town remained rural and didn’t break a population of 10,000 until the 1990s.


The completion of the DFW Airport sparked the majority of this growth. 


Fast forward, and Southlake is now one of the wealthiest and most affluent cities in Texas. 



Jobs and Economy 

I bet you are wondering what it takes to afford living in such a luxurious suburb. 


Well, Southlake has a median household income of nearly
$240,000, which makes one of the richest cities in Texas. 


My guess is many of the residents here are professionals or own their own businesses. But some of the top employers are Sabre Holdings and TD Ameritrade. 


The Southlake economy continues to grow with
30 new businesses coming to the city in this last quarter. 




Schools 

What kind of schools does one of the richest cities in Texas have? 


Pretty good ones. 


Actually very good ones. 


Carroll ISD

Southlake’s school system falls into Carroll ISD, which is considered the best school district in the DFW and the 3rd best school district in Texas. 


There are 11 schools in total and they serve around 8,400 students. 

There are 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and two high schools (although one serves students in grades 9-10 and the other grades 11-12)


The average SAT score in this school district is 1350 and the average ACT score is 30. 


High school football is also a big deal in Southlake. And why wouldn’t they be? They have a massive stadium and 8 state championships. So, if you have kids who are athletes, you will have no problem finding a top-notch athletic program. 


Carroll Senior High School

  • Serves grades 11-12
  • A+ grade from niche.com 
  • Best Public High School in Tarrant County 
  • 7th best Public High School in Texas


Carroll High School

  • Serves grades 9-10
  • A Rating from niche.com
  • Top 5% in Texas for STEM classes 



Dragon Stadium




Parks and Recreation

The Southlake Parks and Rec department like to keep all of those kids (and their parents) busy by providing world class park services. There are 35 parks that span over 1100 acres in Southlake so you will not have a difficult time finding one close by. 


Bicentennial Park 

The first park on our list is the flagship park of Southlake. The pride and joy. 

Bicentennial Park. 


Bicentennial Park is the award winning park that takes up around 82 acres and was the first park built in the city. It has undergone massive renovations which earned it the
TRAPS North Region Park Design Excellence Award in 2021. 


The park itself has: 


  • Baseball and softball fields
  • Tennis courts
  • A playground with a splash pad


In addition to its recreational perks, Bicentennial Park also offers a variety of educational opportunities. 

The park is home to the Bicentennial Park Nature Center, which offers a variety of programs and events about the local environment. 

The park also has a number of historical markers that tell the story of Southlake's history.


The Marq

Event venue located inside of Bicentennial Park. 

Awarded the Best Designed Recreational Facility in Texas in 2022

Includes Legends Hall and Ana Amphitheater

 


Bob Jones Park and Nature Center

The next park on our list is a little farther out of the way than Bicentennial Park, but it’s definitely got a feel of it’s own. 

Bob Jones Park is a 493-acre park in Southlake, Texas nestled right next to Grapevine Lake. 

It has over 20 miles of hiking trails and easy access to the lake where you can fish, swim, boat, or whatever your heart desires. 

In addition to the numerous amenities offered, the Bob Jones Park and Nature Center hosts events and programs throughout the year, including: 

  • The Youth Cross Timbers Nature Club 
  • The Monarch Butterfly Festival 
  • The Haunted Family Campout



Housing

So what does it take to afford to live in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in all of Dallas? 


Neighborhoods


Carillon Parc

Carillon Parc is a 285-acre, 800,000-square-foot, mixed use development that will include 404 single-family home sites. 


Located in Southlake, TX, the development will also include up to 500,000 square feet of retail space and 300,000 square feet of office space. Carillon provides its own recreational system complete with nature preserves, walking and biking paths, lakes and 68 acres of parks.


Can try Kensington Custom Homes (Not 100% sure if this is a model home) 

402 Montpelier Dr, Southlake, TX 76092


Stony Brook

Stony Brook is a gated community in West Southlake. This community has a common area with 3 ponds, waterfalls, walking trails, and green spaces. The annual homeowners association fee is $3,000



Recap of Southlake

So, there you have it. Southlake, Texas, or if you would like to get into superlatives, “The Richest City in Texas.” What was your favorite part? Maybe you saw Bicentennial Park and thought, “I have to live here, just so I can get in on some of that pickleball action.” Or maybe, your inner shopaholic was dying to burst out when you saw Southlake Town Square. 


Whatever your favorite part was, we can agree on one thing. Southlake, Texas… is pretty sweet. 


If you are thinking that this might be the perfect place for you and your family, make sure to reach out to us here at the Living in Dallas Texas Team. We help people from all over the country find their dream homes in the Dallas area, and we want to help you too. 


Give us a call, shoot us a text, or hop on a zoom so we can help you make that smooth move to Dallas, Texas! 


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Connect with Living in Dallas Texas Team

Ready to take the next step?

Let's schedule a meeting! During this initial consultation, we'll learn more about your situation and what you're seeking in a home. We'll provide advice and address any concerns you may have in order to determine the best approach to achieving your goals. By the end of our conversation, we'll have a solid plan of action and next steps for moving forward.

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