Park Cities Real Estate (Highland & University)

Highland Park and University Park are surrounded by the city of Dallas, and are separate, incorporated cities that together form the fabled “Park Cities” area. Together, the Park Cities are bounded on the east by Central Expressway (US-75) and on the west by the Dallas North Tollway. Preston Road runs north and south down the middle of the two communities. Downtown Dallas is an easy 5-10 minute ride and with the road systems in place, it is just as easy to go west to Las Colinas and the airport or north to Plano.

Park Cities has a population of just over 30,000 and a median home cost of $935,000. In terms of formal education, the Park Cities rank as Texas’ first and second most educated communities.

Highland Park has the distinction of having the highest per-square foot prices for real estate anywhere in the Metroplex. Mansions along Beverly Drive are breath-taking, as are homes along beautiful Turtle Creek Boulevard and Baltimore Drive. Real estate activity revolves around the sale of stately mansions, quaint cottages, and new construction replacing old.

University Park is home to the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU). Real estate prices are slightly lower here than in Highland Park, although not by much. Home buyers will find that there is a larger variety of housing options, including duplexes and townhomes, in addition to all sizes and ages of single-family homes. University Park was selected the “Number One Suburb in the Dallas Area” by D Magazine in 2002 and 2004. The magazine chose University Park from 53 cities in the Meteroplex area and based their decision on the quality of education, housing, safety, ambiance and property taxes.

Highland Park and University Park are both served by the Highland Park Independent School District, which few school districts in the state of Texas can top. The Highland Park ISD is one of only a few districts in Texas to earn all 11 Gold Performance Acknowledgment awards from the Texas Education Agency. All seven of the HPISD campuses also received multiple Gold Performance Acknowledgments.

Links:
City of Highland Park Website
City of University Park Website
Highland Park ISD Website