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Denton County · TX

Moving to Little Elm, Texas

By Mariela Lovo Ol, REALTOR® · Updated

Living in Little Elm, TX means a growing lake town on Lewisville Lake. It has a public beach, a busy Lakefront District and new planned communities to the north. This guide explains which parts of Little Elm to consider and how schools and utilities vary by address. It also covers what to check before buying near the water.

At a glance

County
Denton County[2]
Population (2020 Census)
46,453[1]
Population estimate (July 2025)
62,727[1]
Land area
18.07 sq mi[1]
Lewisville Lake shoreline in town
About 66 miles[3]
Town property tax rate (FY2025-26)
$0.549901 per $100[4]
Owner-occupied housing rate (2020–2024)
70.1%[1]
Mean travel time to work
34.6 minutes[1]
School districts
Little Elm, Denton, Frisco and Aubrey ISDs[2]

What is it like to live in Little Elm, Texas?

Little Elm is a lake town in Denton County, about 30 miles north of Dallas. The Little Elm Economic Development Corporation says 53% of the town is water. The town spreads across four peninsulas with more than 66 miles of Lewisville Lake shoreline. Life here revolves around the lake, the beach and the Lakefront District.

The town is growing fast. The Census Bureau counted 46,453 residents in 2020 and estimated 62,727 by July 2025. Housing ranges from older lake-area homes to large new planned communities along US 380. About 70% of homes are owner-occupied, and the rest are rentals, so you will see both for-sale and lease listings.

Which parts of Little Elm should you look at?

The lakeside core along Eldorado Parkway and FM 423 holds the Lakefront District, the beach and most of the town's older neighborhoods. North along US 380, newer planned communities such as Spiritas Ranch, Union Park and the Paloma Creek area add thousands of newer homes. Valencia on the Lake sits on a peninsula with lake views and trails, and the east side near Frisco includes Sunset Pointe and Frisco Ranch.

Each area can differ in school district, water provider and district taxes. Always check the exact address.

How do you get around from Little Elm?

FM 423 and Eldorado Parkway are the local spines, and US 380 runs across the north end. SH 121, the Dallas North Tollway and I-35E are the main routes toward jobs in Frisco, Plano, Lewisville and Dallas. The Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge offers a shortcut west to Lake Dallas and I-35E.

Little Elm is not a DART or DCTA member city, so there is no local rail or bus service. The Census Bureau puts the average commute at 34.6 minutes, so drive your likely route at rush hour before you choose.

How do schools work in Little Elm?

Four districts serve parts of town. Little Elm ISD covers most of it. Denton ISD serves the US 380 corridor, including Spiritas Ranch and Union Park. Frisco ISD serves part of the east side, and Aubrey ISD serves a small area. Within each district, campuses follow attendance zones.

Verify school assignment for any address directly with the district. Little Elm ISD and Denton ISD both publish address lookup tools, and official state ratings are at txschools.gov.

What is there to do in Little Elm?

Little Elm Park has a public swim beach, boat ramp, camping and trails, and Little Elm Beach adds ten sand volleyball courts. The Lakefront District packs in The Lawn event space, The Rec fitness center, The Cove indoor water park and Cottonwood Creek Marina. A 4-mile Lakefront Trail runs along the shore to McCord Park.

Annual events include the Big Easy celebration in February, Brew & Que in June and Autumn Fest in September. The library on Eldorado Parkway lends makerspace tools and even fishing gear.

What costs should you plan for in Little Elm?

Property taxes combine the Town, Denton County, your school district and a community college district. For 2025-26 the Town's own rate is $0.549901 per $100 of value. Several newer communities carry PID assessments, and Paloma Creek is served by fresh water supply districts that levy their own tax.

Near the lake, check for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flowage easements and flood zones before you buy, and price flood insurance. Also confirm whether CoServ or another utility provides electricity, since co-op areas do not have retail choice. Once you move in, file your homestead exemption with the Denton Central Appraisal District.

What are the next steps if you are considering Little Elm?

See homes for sale in Little Elm, then compare nearby Frisco and Lewisville. Estimate a payment with taxes, PID and HOA in the mortgage calculator.

Planning to tour new construction? Contact Mariela before your first model-home visit so she can represent you from the start.

Parts of town to know: Little Elm

  • Lakefront core and the original peninsulasThe heart of town along Eldorado Parkway and FM 423, near Little Elm Park, the beach, the Lakefront District and the library.
  • Valencia on the LakeA 448-acre planned community on the lake side of town with a pool, fitness center, trails and more than 80 acres of open space.
  • Spiritas RanchA 545-acre community off Ryan Spiritas Parkway north of the lake, planned for about 2,100 single-family homes and assigned to Denton ISD.
  • Union ParkA Hillwood Communities neighborhood north of US 380 on the University Drive corridor, with a 35-acre wooded park.
  • Paloma Creek and the US 380 corridorLarge subdivisions along US 380 with Little Elm or Aubrey mailing addresses, served by Denton County fresh water supply districts and Denton ISD.
  • East side: Sunset Pointe and Frisco RanchNeighborhoods on the Frisco side of town where part of the area is served by Frisco ISD.

School assignment can change and differs by address. Verify with the school district, and see official ratings at TXschools.gov (TEA). Little Elm ISD, Denton ISD (US 380 corridor), Frisco ISD (parts of the east side), Aubrey ISD (small area).

Homes for sale now — Little Elm

Search all homes in Little Elm

Common questions

Which utility companies serve Little Elm?

The Town provides water and sewer to most addresses, and Community Waste Disposal handles trash and recycling. CoServ, an electric co-op, serves at least part of town, so check the electric provider for each address. Paloma Creek gets water and sewer from Denton County fresh water supply districts.

What is lake living in Little Elm like?

The lake shapes daily life. The Town says it has about 66 miles of shoreline. The Economic Development Corporation says about half its area is water. Little Elm Park has a public swim beach and boat ramp. The Lakefront District adds a marina, an indoor water park and event lawn. Before buying near the water, check Corps of Engineers easements and flood zones.

Which school district serves Little Elm?

Little Elm ISD serves most of the town, while Denton ISD serves the US 380 corridor and Frisco ISD and Aubrey ISD serve smaller areas. Assignment depends on the exact address. Verify school assignment for any address directly with the district, and see official ratings at txschools.gov.

Does Little Elm have PIDs or MUD-style districts?

Yes, in some areas. The Town lists PIDs including Valencia on the Lake, Spiritas Ranch and Spiritas East, and the county bills PID installments on the tax bill. Paloma Creek is served by fresh water supply districts that levy their own tax. The seller must give you a written notice before you sign.

Can I build a house or dock on land near Lewisville Lake?

Not on every lot. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers holds flowage easements on private land below the 537-foot elevation contour, and it prohibits structures for human habitation there. Other structures need Corps approval, and owners cannot take over public lake land for their own private use. Get a survey that shows the easement line before you buy.

Is there public transportation in Little Elm?

No regular bus or rail service runs in Little Elm, because the town is not a member of DART or DCTA. Most residents drive, using FM 423, Eldorado Parkway, US 380, SH 121 and the Dallas North Tollway. The Census Bureau puts the average commute at 34.6 minutes.

Should I buy new construction in Little Elm or a resale nearby?

It depends on your budget for taxes and upkeep. New homes in planned communities often carry PID assessments and HOA dues. A resale gives you a real tax bill and a known roof age. Compare full monthly costs, and bring your own agent to your first builder visit.

Sources

  1. QuickFacts: Little Elm city, Texas, U.S. Census Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
  2. Little Elm, Texas, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  3. Geography of Little Elm, Little Elm Economic Development Corporation (read 2026-09-24)
  4. Property Tax Rates, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  5. Tax Assessor/Collector, Denton County (read 2026-09-24)
  6. Public Improvement Districts, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  7. About Us, Little Elm ISD (read 2026-09-24)
  8. Little Elm Independent School District, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  9. Attendance Zones, Denton ISD (read 2026-09-24)
  10. Little Elm Location, Little Elm Economic Development Corporation (read 2026-09-24)
  11. Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  12. DCTA home page, Denton County Transportation Authority (read 2026-09-24)
  13. Hill Lane Expansion: Traffic Route Shifts to Phase 2, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  14. Utility Service - Water, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  15. Paloma Creek, Texas, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  16. Trash, Recycle, & Bulk, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  17. Town of Little Elm home page (Quick Links: Residential CoServ Release), Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  18. About, CoServ (read 2026-09-24)
  19. Little Elm Alert Emergency Notifications, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  20. Outdoor Warning Sirens, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  21. Little Elm Park, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
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  23. McCord Park, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  24. Union Park, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  25. Lakefront Trail, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  26. Parks & Trails, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  27. Cottonwood Creek Marina, Lakefront Little Elm (Town of Little Elm) (read 2026-09-24)
  28. The Rec at The Lakefront, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  29. The Cove at The Lakefront, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  30. Little Elm Public Library, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  31. The Lakefront at Little Elm, Lakefront Little Elm (Town of Little Elm) (read 2026-09-24)
  32. The Lawn at The Lakefront, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  33. Special Events, Lakefront Little Elm (Town of Little Elm) (read 2026-09-24)
  34. Little Elm to Host New IRONMAN 70.3, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  35. Spiritas Ranch, Centurion American (developer site) (read 2026-09-24)
  36. Valencia on the Lake, Centurion American (developer site) (read 2026-09-24)
  37. Communities: Union Park, Hillwood Communities (read 2026-09-24)
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  39. Lake Information, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lewisville Lake (read 2026-09-24)
  40. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  41. Police (Crime Statistics Dashboard link), Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  42. Farmers Market at The Lawn, Town of Little Elm (read 2026-09-24)
  43. Big Easy in Little Elm, Lakefront Little Elm (Town of Little Elm) (read 2026-09-24)
  44. Frisco Independent School District, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  45. Aubrey Independent School District, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
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  50. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Centennial, Baylor Scott & White Health (read 2026-09-24)
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  58. New to Texas, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (read 2026-09-24)
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  60. Choosing an Electric Plan, Public Utility Commission of Texas (read 2026-09-24)
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  63. 5 Tips for Buying New Construction, Freddie Mac (read 2026-09-24)
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  65. Texas Public Schools (TXschools.gov), Texas Education Agency (read 2026-09-24)
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  67. Property Tax Assistance, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)

Last reviewed: 2026-09-24. Descriptions cover places and amenities, not the people who live there. We are committed to the Fair Housing Act.

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