Dallas County · Las Colinas · Near DFW Airport
Living in Irving, Texas
Everything relocating families need to know, Las Colinas employers, schools, neighborhoods, and what life in Irving really looks like.
"Irving doesn't get enough credit as a family destination, if you work in Las Colinas, near DFW Airport, or anywhere along the SH-114 corridor, the commute math here is genuinely hard to beat. At around $383K median, you're getting real square footage. The honest caveat: Irving ISD's B- rating means most families I work with either research specific school attendance zones very carefully, or budget for private school, and that's a conversation worth having before you fall in love with a house."
Kristen Carpentier is a licensed Texas Realtor® and DFW family relocation specialist, brokered by eXp Realty. She's a mom of four and has helped hundreds of families, mostly relocating from California, New York, and Illinois, find their right suburb and the right school district before ever stepping foot in a home.
(602) 405-4115 · Kristen@whymovetodallas.com · TREC #760457
U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023
Where Is Irving? Commutes & Getting Around
Irving sits about 15 miles northwest of Downtown Dallas and roughly 22 miles east of Downtown Fort Worth, straddling the geographic middle of the Metroplex in Dallas County. The city runs along SH-114, SH-183 (Airport Freeway), and SH-161, providing quick access to the most concentrated employment corridor in all of DFW, Las Colinas, along with DFW International Airport directly to the north.
For anyone whose job is in Las Colinas, at DFW Airport, or anywhere along the SH-114 corridor from Irving toward Southlake, this is simply the most convenient place to live in the entire Metroplex. The honest tradeoff: the northern DFW suburbs, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, are 40–55 minutes away. Irving is not the right base if that's where you work.
Commute Times from Central Irving
Irving ISD: Schools in Irving, Texas
Irving ISD serves the entire city and holds a B- from Niche, below the north DFW suburban norm. The district's average conceals real campus-by-campus variation; the Las Colinas and Valley Ranch zones consistently produce above-average individual campuses. Families choosing Irving for its employment proximity and affordability typically research specific attendance zones carefully, and some opt for private school.
Top Campuses in Irving ISD
| Campus | Level | GreatSchools |
|---|---|---|
| MacArthur High School | 9–12 | 7/10 |
| Nimitz High School | 9–12 | 6/10 |
| Austin Middle School | 6–8 | 7/10 |
| Lively Elementary | K–5 | 8/10 |
| Singley Academy | 9–12 | 6/10 |
Best Neighborhoods in Irving for Families
Irving's neighborhoods offer more variety than almost any other suburb in this guide, from urban walkable Las Colinas to the mature master-planned feel of Valley Ranch to the gated privacy of Hackberry Creek. The right choice depends heavily on your commute pattern, budget, and tolerance for school zone research.
Search Current Irving Listings →
Las Colinas Urban Center
Irving's crown jewel, a planned business and residential district built around Lake Carolyn and the Mandalay Canal system. Walkable by DFW standards, home to Toyota Music Factory, upscale dining, and dozens of Fortune 500 headquarters. Condos, townhomes, and single-family homes all available. Stronger school campuses in this zone.
Valley Ranch
Built in the 1980s as one of DFW's first master-planned communities, Valley Ranch offers mature trees, larger lots, a network of canals, and strong community identity. Popular with families who want established neighborhood character at below-Coppell prices. Nimitz HS feeder, research the specific campus carefully.
Heritage District
Irving's oldest neighborhood, anchored by the historic downtown district and Lake Carolyn nearby. More affordable entry points, older housing stock with renovation potential, growing arts and dining scene. Best value in Irving for buyers comfortable with an older home. School zones vary, verify by address.
Hackberry Creek
Irving's most prestigious address, a gated community centered on a private golf club near SH-114. Custom and semi-custom homes on larger lots, tight HOA standards, and a more private character than the rest of Irving. Strong resale values. Limited inventory makes timing critical when buying here.
Irving vs. Where You're Coming From
At a median SFR price around $383K, Irving is the most affordable city in this guide, and one of the most affordable in the entire Dallas County suburban belt. For families relocating from California or the Northeast who work in Las Colinas or at DFW Airport, the financial shift is dramatic.
| Category | San Francisco Bay Area | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | ~$1.3M | ~$383K |
| State Income Tax | 9.3%+ (up to 13.3%) | $0, No state income tax |
| Property Tax Rate | ~1.1–1.2% (Prop 13 capped) | ~2.09% combined |
| Avg. Tax Burden | ~13–16% of income | ~8–10% of income |
| School Quality | Highly variable by zip | Irving ISD B- / B (TEA) |
| Avg. Commute | 45–90+ min | 10–25 min to Las Colinas / DFW Airport |
Property Tax Breakdown: Irving (Dallas County)
| Taxing Entity | Rate per $100 | On $383K Home |
|---|---|---|
| Irving ISD | ~$1.05 | ~$4,022/yr |
| City of Irving | ~$0.61 | ~$2,336/yr |
| Dallas County | ~$0.22 | ~$843/yr |
| Dallas County Community College (DCCCD) | ~$0.11 | ~$421/yr |
| Base Total | ~$1.99 | ~$7,622/yr |
| + MUD/PID (if applicable) | N/A for Irving | N/A |
Rates are 2024 certified. Always confirm for a specific address. Source: Texas Comptroller.
Major Employers Near Irving, Texas
Las Colinas is one of the most concentrated corporate campus districts in the United States, a genuine employment fortress sitting directly inside Irving's city limits. Dozens of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 headquarters operate here, along with DFW Airport's massive operations and commercial complex to the north.
In Las Colinas / Irving
| Employer | Industry |
|---|---|
| ExxonMobil (Las Colinas campus) | Energy |
| Nokia (North America HQ) | Telecommunications |
| Kimberly-Clark (HQ) | Consumer Products |
| Celanese (HQ) | Specialty Chemicals |
| Fluor Corporation (HQ) | Engineering / Construction |
| McKesson Corporation (HQ) | Healthcare Distribution |
| Michaels Companies (HQ) | Retail |
| 7-Eleven (HQ) | Convenience Retail |
| Zale Corporation (HQ) | Jewelry Retail |
| DFW Airport Operations | Aviation / Logistics |
Plano / Legacy West (25–40 min)
| Employer | Industry |
|---|---|
| Toyota North America HQ | Automotive (9,000+) |
| JPMorgan Chase | Financial Services (5,000+) |
| Liberty Mutual | Insurance |
| Ericsson (North America HQ) | Telecommunications |
| Fannie Mae (regional campus) | Financial Services |
What Life Actually Looks Like in Irving
Toyota Music Factory & Entertainment
Irving's premier entertainment complex in Las Colinas, outdoor amphitheater, indoor arena, 20+ restaurants, and bars all within a walkable district. Concerts, comedy shows, and dining in one place. Exceptional by DFW suburban standards.
Lake Carolyn & Mandalay Canal
The urban waterfront at the heart of Las Colinas, a canal system and lake for kayaking, paddleboarding, and waterfront dining. The Gondola service on the canal is one of DFW's more unusual amenities. Families use it for evening walks and weekend recreation.
International & Diverse Dining Scene
Irving has one of DFW's most genuinely diverse restaurant landscapes, authentic Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, and more, spread across the city. Families from California and the Northeast often find the food variety here a pleasant surprise compared to more homogeneous north suburbs.
Travel Convenience
No suburb in DFW gets you to DFW International Airport in under 15 minutes consistently. For families with members who travel frequently for work, or who fly back to visit family in California, New York, or Illinois, this is a day-to-day quality-of-life advantage that compounds over time.
Mustangs of Las Colinas
The iconic bronze mustang sculpture herd at Williams Square Plaza is one of DFW's most recognizable landmarks. An unusual and memorable piece of public art in the middle of a corporate campus, kids love it, and it anchors the Las Colinas urban identity.
Urban, Diverse, International
Irving is markedly more diverse and cosmopolitan than most DFW suburbs, Niche gives it an A+ for diversity. Families who come from urban environments and want a diverse community often find Irving a better cultural fit than the predominantly homogeneous north suburbs.
Recreation, Walkability & City Amenities
Irving is the walkability exception in a car-dependent metro. The Las Colinas urban core has genuine DART rail access and a Walk Score of 80, among the highest in any DFW suburb. Outside the urban core, Irving remains car-dependent for daily errands. The city compensates with Campion Trail, one of the best urban trail systems in DFW, and Lake Carolyn's urban waterfront.
Walkability & Transportation Scores
Scores reflect the city's most walkable core and vary significantly by address. Source: Walk Score® 
Parks, Trails & Green Space
Irving maintains over 55 parks and more than 26 miles of trails, anchored by Campion Trail along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, one of DFW's premier urban trail systems. Lake Carolyn adds urban waterfront access unique in the suburban landscape.
Campion Trail
Over 12.5 miles of paved trail along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, connecting Irving to the broader DFW trail network. Popular for running, cycling, and dog walking. Families use it heavily on weekends, one of DFW's most underrated urban trails.
Lake Carolyn & Mandalay Canal
Urban lake and canal system at the heart of Las Colinas, kayaking, paddleboarding, walking paths, and waterfront dining. Gondola rides on the canal are a genuine DFW novelty. The most urban outdoor recreation setting in any DFW suburb.
Mustang Park Recreation Center
Irving's newest recreation facility, full fitness center, indoor aquatic center, gymnasium, and multi-purpose studios. City-operated with family membership options. Located in far northwest Irving near Valley Ranch.
Arden Lake Park
A neighborhood park with a fishing lake in the northern part of Irving, popular with families for fishing, picnicking, and casual outdoor recreation. Less known than Campion Trail but a solid local option.
Heritage Park
A community anchor in Irving's historic district, green space, events venue, and gathering point for the Heritage District neighborhood. Used for local festivals, farmers markets, and community programming throughout the year.
Andrew Brown Park (nearby Coppell)
Just across the Irving–Coppell border, Andrew Brown Park offers expansive green space, sports fields, and walking trails along Denton Creek. Irving families near Valley Ranch and the northern neighborhoods use it regularly.
City Recreation Centers & Facilities
| Facility | What's Inside |
|---|---|
| Mustang Park Recreation Center | Aquatic center, fitness center, gymnasium, multi-purpose studios |
| Lee Park Recreation Center | Fitness equipment, aerobics studio, meeting rooms, outdoor courts |
| Irving Arts Center | Visual arts galleries, performing arts venues, community classes |
| Irving Public Library | Books, digital resources, children's programming, computer access |
| Toyota Music Factory | Indoor/outdoor concert venues, dining, entertainment complex |
Youth Sports & Organized Recreation
Irving has a broad youth sports infrastructure anchored by city recreation leagues, YMCA programs, and Irving ISD athletics. The diversity of the city means a wider variety of martial arts and international sports programs than most DFW suburbs.
Is Irving, Texas Safe?
Irving's crime rate is higher than the north DFW suburban average, Niche gives the city a C+ for crime and safety, reflecting real variance across zip codes. The Las Colinas urban core and Valley Ranch typically record lower crime figures than the city-wide average, which is pulled up by higher-crime commercial and industrial zones in other parts of Irving. Families choosing Irving should research their specific neighborhood's crime data, not just the city-wide number.
Violent Crime Rate
~3.5 per 1,000 residents, above the DFW north-suburb average but below the national average of ~4.0/1,000. Higher in some eastern zip codes; lower in Las Colinas and Valley Ranch zones.
Property Crime
~28 per 1,000 residents, moderately above state and national averages. Auto theft and property crime tend to be more concentrated near commercial corridors. Residential neighborhoods in Las Colinas and Valley Ranch track lower.
Irving PD
Irving Police Department operates community policing initiatives and a neighborhood watch program. Crime data is published quarterly. Las Colinas area is actively patrolled given the corporate campus density and event venue traffic from Toyota Music Factory.
Irving Real Estate Market: What to Expect
In Irving, the heart of the market is the starter band: 52% of homes sold in the past year landed under $400K, where a median of about $306K buys roughly 1,569 square feet. About 18% of sales were $700K or more, so move-up and luxury buyers have real selection. Price per square foot climbs from about $195 at the entry level to $328 at the top, which is what you are paying for in larger lots, newer builds, and higher finish levels.
Median Sale Price
$385K
12-month rolling avg · single-family
Average Sale Price
$488K
12-month rolling avg · single-family
Price per Sq Ft
$208
Median · 12-month rolling
Sale to Original List
96.4%
12-month rolling · share of original list price
Days on Market
28 days
Median · 12-month rolling
Months Supply
3.9 mo.
Balanced market · 12-month
Active Inventory
290
Current active supply · single-family
Closed Sales
925
12-month total · single-family
A few more numbers worth knowing if you are weighing an offer in Irving. Over the trailing 12 months, single-family homes sold for a median of $385K and an average of $488K, which works out to about $208 per square foot. Homes here sold for roughly 96.4% of their original list price, which gives you a sense of how much room buyers have typically had to negotiate. As of the latest data, about 290 single-family homes were actively listed. These are NTREIS figures (the price metrics are 12-month rolling, inventory is current active supply), and your own price per square foot and negotiating room will vary by neighborhood, age of home, and finish level.
Source: NTREIS via 10K Research · All figures are 12-month rolling periods · Updated May 2025
Irving's market is balanced at roughly 3.9 months supply, neither the fierce seller's market conditions of peak Frisco nor a buyer's market. The $383K median is the lowest entry point among Dallas County's family-oriented suburbs, which creates solid demand from buyers priced out of Coppell and north Dallas. Housing stock is mostly older (1970s–1990s), with Las Colinas offering newer condo and townhome inventory. New construction is limited within city limits.
style="margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e8e4de;">Condo & Townhome Market
12-month rolling · – · Source: NTREIS via 10K Research
Median Sale Price
–
Condo / Townhome
Days on Market
–
Median · 12-month
Months Supply
–
–
Closed Sales
–
12-month total
Living in Irving: Pros & Cons
✓ What Families Love
- Most affordable median SFR price in this guide at ~$383K, real space for the money
- 10–15 min to DFW International Airport, unmatched in the Metroplex
- Las Colinas is a world-class employment campus, ExxonMobil, Nokia, Kimberly-Clark, Celanese, McKesson, and dozens more
- Above-average walkability and DART rail access for a DFW suburb
- Campion Trail, one of DFW's best urban trail systems at 12+ miles
- Toyota Music Factory, exceptional entertainment and dining in a walkable district
- Genuinely diverse, international community, Niche A+ for diversity
- What to Know
- Irving ISD B- requires careful school zone research, campus quality varies significantly
- Higher crime rate than north DFW suburbs, research specific neighborhood, not city-wide
- Older housing stock in most neighborhoods, 1970s–1990s builds are common
- No tight-knit suburban community feel, more transient, urban character
- SH-114, I-635, and SH-183 all congested at rush hour
- Frisco / McKinney commute (40–55 min) makes Irving a poor base for north-suburb employers
How Irving Compares to Nearby Suburbs
Every family weighs the same factors differently. Here is how Irving stacks up against nearby options on the metrics that matter most for relocating families.
Scores computed from Niche, NTREIS, WalkScore, and Census ACS · Updated 2026 · Compare all DFW suburbs →
Irving, Texas: FAQ for Relocating Families
Yes, Las Colinas is a planned business and residential district located entirely within Irving, Texas. It is not a separate city; it's a development within Irving's city limits. Las Colinas includes the Toyota Music Factory entertainment complex, Lake Carolyn, the Mandalay Canal, and numerous Fortune 500 corporate campuses.
Las Colinas is known for its concentration of major corporate headquarters (ExxonMobil, Nokia, Kimberly-Clark, Celanese, McKesson, 7-Eleven, Michaels, and many others), the Toyota Music Factory entertainment complex, Lake Carolyn and the Mandalay Canal, the Mustangs of Las Colinas sculpture, and DART Orange Line rail access to Downtown Dallas. It's one of the most significant corporate campus districts in the United States.
Irving ISD holds a B- from Niche (2025) and a B (Meets Standard) from TEA. The district average conceals meaningful campus variation, schools in the Las Colinas and Valley Ranch zones consistently score above the district mean, while other areas perform closer to the average. Families should verify their specific address against the Irving ISD boundary map and research individual campus ratings. Private school options including Cistercian Preparatory School are within driving range for families who prioritize academics.
Irving's city-wide crime rate is higher than the north DFW suburban average, Niche gives it a C+ for safety. Violent crime runs approximately 3.5 per 1,000 residents, below the national average of ~4.0 but above comparable suburbs like Coppell or Flower Mound. Safety varies significantly by neighborhood: Las Colinas and Valley Ranch track lower, while some eastern and central Irving zip codes pull the city average up. Research crime data for the specific neighborhood you're considering.
The median single-family home price in Irving is approximately $383K (NTREIS, 2024–2025 rolling). This is the most affordable median among Dallas County's primary family-oriented suburbs. The market is balanced at roughly 3.9 months supply. Las Colinas condos and townhomes offer additional options; Hackberry Creek gated homes reach $400K–$700K+.
Las Colinas houses dozens of major corporate headquarters and campuses including ExxonMobil, Nokia (North America HQ), Kimberly-Clark (HQ), Celanese (HQ), Fluor Corporation (HQ), McKesson Corporation (HQ), Michaels Companies (HQ), 7-Eleven (HQ), and many more. The corridor is one of the most concentrated Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 employment hubs in the United States.
Irving is approximately 15 miles northwest of Downtown Dallas. Drive time is typically 15–25 minutes without heavy traffic, via SH-114 East or I-35E. DART Orange Line trains also connect Las Colinas to Downtown Dallas. During peak rush hour (7–9 AM and 4:30–7 PM), budget 30–40 minutes for the drive.
Irving is approximately 10 miles from DFW International Airport, with a typical drive time of 10–15 minutes via SH-114 or Belt Line Road. This is the shortest airport commute of any significant DFW suburb, a meaningful quality-of-life advantage for families with frequent business travelers or members who fly back to visit family regularly.
The top neighborhoods for families in Irving are: Las Colinas Urban Center ($380K–$650K, walkable, urban amenities, DART access), Valley Ranch ($350K–$580K, mature master-planned community, large lots, canals), Hackberry Creek ($400K–$700K, gated, golf course, private), and Heritage District ($320K–$500K, historic, entry-level, arts scene). School zones vary by neighborhood, always verify attendance zones before committing to a specific home.
Irving is a good fit for families who prioritize employer proximity (Las Colinas, DFW Airport corridor), affordability, and urban amenities, and are willing to research school zones carefully or budget for private school. It's less well-suited for families who prioritize high-rated public schools across the board or want a tight-knit, community-oriented suburban character. Niche gives Irving an A- for families overall and an A+ for diversity, but a C+ for crime. The right family finds great value here; the wrong fit learns it from the ISD rating too late.
The DFW Family Relocation Guide
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Email Kristen (602) 405-4115Also exploring these suburbs?
15950 Dallas Pkwy #400, Dallas, TX 75248 · Licensed in Texas Only
Information on this page is provided for educational purposes and is believed to be accurate as of May 2026. School district ratings, property tax rates, crime statistics, home prices, employer information, and community details change over time. Always verify ISD zoning by specific property address before making real estate decisions. Tax rates: Texas Comptroller. TEA ratings: txschools.gov. Niche grades: niche.com. GreatSchools: greatschools.org.
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