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Tarrant County (small areas in Denton County) · TX

Pros and cons of moving to Southlake

By Mariela Lovo Ol, REALTOR® · Updated

The pros and cons of moving to Southlake, TX come down to a few things. There is its location next to DFW Airport and its compact layout. Its homes are almost all single-family. Here is a balanced look.

Pro: What does Southlake Town Square offer?

Town Square, which opened in 1999 with a second phase in 2006, holds Town Hall, the public library, shops, restaurants, parks and a hotel. Homes nearby can reach it on foot, which is rare in a car-oriented suburb.

Family and Rustin Parks sit in front of Town Hall. Seasonal events bring people downtown, which also means weekend traffic near the square.

Pro: How much park space is there?

Bob Jones Park covers nearly 500 acres with sports fields, a pond, an equestrian area and a dog park. Next door, the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve has more than 20 miles of hiking trails. Grapevine Lake is minutes away.

Champions Club at The Marq Southlake adds the city's fitness and aquatics center.

Pro: Is Southlake close to the airport?

Yes. DFW Airport's runways sit just southeast of the city, and SH 114 leads to the terminals, Irving and Dallas. Frequent flyers save real time.

TEXRail from Grapevine/Main Street also reaches Terminal B if you would rather not park at the airport.

Pro: What tax relief does the city offer homeowners?

The city offers a 20% homestead exemption, which it calls the highest level permitted by law. It also reported $75,000 exemptions for owners 65 and older and for disabled owners. Owners 65 and older also get a tax freeze.

Con: Is there airport noise?

Parts of the city sit under the corridor for DFW's west diagonal runway. The city publishes a noise cone map, and homes developed there since the late 1980s may carry an aviation easement. Visit at several times of day.

The city notes that DFW's Runway 18L/36R is closed from August 15, 2026 until April 2027. So flight patterns during a showing may not match normal operations.

Con: Can I get around without a car?

Not easily. There is no bus or rail inside city limits, and outside Town Square the city is car-dependent. The nearest train is TEXRail at Grapevine/Main Street.

Con: Why is school and utility research more work here?

Four school districts and two electric utilities serve parts of Southlake. A few addresses are in Denton County instead of Tarrant. A Southlake address alone does not tell you the district, the electric provider or the appraisal district.

Budget time to check the appraisal record, the district zone map and the electric provider for every home on your list.

Con: What weather risks should I plan for?

North Texas spring storms bring hail and, at times, tornado warnings, and hard freezes happen in winter. Budget for roof checks and a realistic hail deductible.

Compare the cost of living in Southlake, read the Southlake community guide or weigh the pros and cons of Grapevine.

Common questions

What are the main downsides of living in Southlake?

Buyers most often weigh airport noise in parts of the city and the lack of public transit. They also weigh the extra research needed on school districts and electric providers. Hail and winter freezes are regional risks.

How close is Southlake to DFW Airport?

Very close. DFW's runways sit just southeast of the city, and SH 114 leads to the airport. The nearest train connection is TEXRail at Grapevine/Main Street.

Does Southlake offer a homestead exemption?

Yes. The city offers a 20% homestead exemption. It adds exemptions for owners 65 and older and disabled owners. School districts add the state-required $140,000 exemption.

Sources

  1. QuickFacts: Southlake city, Texas (with Fort Worth, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Denton), U.S. Census Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
  2. Southlake, Texas (coordinates, counties, transportation), Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  3. Your Taxes for Your Southlake, City of Southlake (read 2026-09-24)
  4. Truth-in-Taxation, City of Southlake (read 2026-09-24)
  5. Schools directory, City of Southlake (read 2026-09-24)
  6. Online enrollment portal and attendance zones, Carroll ISD (read 2026-09-24)
  7. Southlake Town Square, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  8. SPIN District Map, City of Southlake (read 2026-09-24)
  9. Bob Jones Park, City of Southlake (Experience Southlake) (read 2026-09-24)
  10. Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve, City of Southlake (Experience Southlake) (read 2026-09-24)
  11. Champions Club at The Marq Southlake, City of Southlake (Experience Southlake) (read 2026-09-24)
  12. DFW Airport and the City of Southlake, City of Southlake (read 2026-09-24)
  13. Aircraft noise program, DFW International Airport (read 2026-09-24)
  14. Water Utilities, City of Southlake (read 2026-09-24)
  15. Trash & Recycling, City of Southlake (read 2026-09-24)
  16. Utility providers directory, City of Southlake (read 2026-09-24)
  17. Carroll ISD reduces tax rate for FY 2026-27, Community Impact (read 2026-09-24)
  18. Just the facts: Southlake Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, Carroll ISD (read 2026-09-24)
  19. Homestead exemption, Tarrant Appraisal District (read 2026-09-24)
  20. Property owners: file your property value protest by May 15, Tarrant Appraisal District (read 2026-09-24)
  21. Property tax exemptions, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  22. Property tax protests and appeals, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  23. Starting a New Business (Fiscal Notes), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  24. Municipally-Owned Electric Utilities and Electric Cooperatives FAQs, Public Utility Commission of Texas (read 2026-09-24)
  25. Power to Choose (official PUCT electricity shopping site), Public Utility Commission of Texas (read 2026-09-24)
  26. Dallas/Fort Worth Climate Narrative, National Weather Service Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  27. Home insurance guide, Texas Department of Insurance (read 2026-09-24)
  28. Texas Water Code Section 49.452 – Notice to Purchasers, Texas Water Code (via texas.public.law) (read 2026-09-24)
  29. FEMA Flood Map Service Center, FEMA (read 2026-09-24)
  30. Texas Public Schools accountability ratings, Texas Education Agency (read 2026-09-24)
  31. About TEXRail, Trinity Metro (read 2026-09-24)
  32. Grapevine Lake information, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (read 2026-09-24)
  33. Tarrant County commissioners cut tax rate, approve budget, Community Impact (read 2026-09-24)
  34. Denton Central Appraisal District, Denton CAD (read 2026-09-24)
  35. Valuing Property (homestead 10 percent limit; circuit breaker limitation), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  36. Sales and Use Tax, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  37. Texas Sales and Use Tax Rates – July 2026 (city rates), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  38. Fence and Pool Barrier Guidelines (Feb 2026), City of Southlake Building Inspections (read 2026-09-24)
  39. Health and Safety Code Chapter 757 – Pool Yard Enclosures, Texas Legislature (via texas.public.law) (read 2026-09-24)
  40. Deep Soil Mixing Technology for Mitigation of Pavement Roughness (Report 0-5179-1), Texas Department of Transportation / Texas A&M Transportation Institute (read 2026-09-24)
  41. Carroll ISD accountability overview, Texas Education Agency (TXschools.gov) (read 2026-09-24)
  42. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD accountability overview, Texas Education Agency (TXschools.gov) (read 2026-09-24)
  43. Keller ISD accountability overview, Texas Education Agency (TXschools.gov) (read 2026-09-24)
  44. Northwest ISD accountability overview, Texas Education Agency (TXschools.gov) (read 2026-09-24)
  45. NTTA home page (TollTag and ZipCash), North Texas Tollway Authority (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.