2026 Denton community guide · Denton County
A county seat and college town with a historic square, two universities, a homegrown music scene and new master plans on the south side.
By Karli Vasek, REALTOR® (TREC #0784847) · Updated
For sale now
From older homes near the Square and the universities to new construction in Landmark and 55-plus living at Robson Ranch, here are the latest Denton listings and quick searches.
01Overview
For buyers who want a real city with its own identity, Denton is one of the most distinctive places in North Texas: a historic courthouse square, UNT and TWU, festivals and live music, plus new master plans and a 55-plus golf community on the south side. Typical values (about $343,000) are below most suburbs to the south. The trade-offs are a combined tax rate near 2%, a 40- to 50-minute drive to Dallas or Fort Worth, and a district rating that slipped in 2026.
Denton was laid out in 1857 as the new seat of Denton County and named for John B. Denton, a preacher and lawyer killed in 1841. It incorporated in 1866, the railroad arrived in 1881, and the University of North Texas (1890) and Texas Woman’s University (1901) shaped the city that followed. The Courthouse-on-the-Square was rebuilt in 1896 and still anchors downtown.
Today Denton is home to about 169,000 people (July 2025 Census estimate), up about 21% since 2020. It is known for UNT’s College of Music and an independent music scene, and for festivals such as the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, Thin Line Fest and the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo.
Neighborhoods range from older homes near the Square and the campuses to newer subdivisions off Loop 288 and Landmark, a 3,200-acre Hillwood master plan in south Denton planned for about 6,000 homes. Robson Ranch adds a large 55-plus golf community on the west side.
Denton runs its own electric utility, Denton Municipal Electric, so you won’t shop for a retail provider. Newer master plans such as Landmark carry special-district taxes, with listings showing totals around 2.7%, while several smaller new-build communities advertise no MUD or PID.
02Honest take
What we tell our own clients before they make a move.
Pros
Cons
03Where to live
Denton has everything from historic streets near the Square to new master plans and a 55-plus golf community. These are the names our buyers ask about most.
A Hillwood master plan of about 3,200 acres in south Denton planned for about 6,000 homes, with an 1,100-acre green network of parks and trails, a pool, an amenity center and a planned park and entertainment district. Listings show special-district taxes (about 2.7% total).
Homes near LandmarkAn active-adult community in southwest Denton with Wildhorse Golf Club and a 17,500-sq-ft clubhouse with a ballroom. The builder markets “No MUD. No PID.”
Homes near Robson RanchAbout 95 homesites of 50 and 60 feet just off Loop 288, zoned to Ryan High. Listings say no MUD or PID.
Homes near Kings WayHomes of about 1,580 to 2,820 square feet with a resort-style pool, splash pad, outdoor kitchen and trails. Listings say no MUD or PID.
Homes near Eagle CreekMeritage homes of about 1,830 to 3,060 square feet near Ryan High, with a playground and trails.
Homes near Stella HillsOlder homes and bungalows on tree-lined streets near the Square, UNT and TWU, within walking or biking distance of downtown restaurants and music venues.
Homes near Central DentonFirst Texas Homes is building at The Meadows (from about $290K) and Parkside (from about $388K), and Olivia Clarke Homes has Cole Ranch coming soon. A few Denton addresses are zoned to Argyle, Krum, Ponder or Sanger ISD, so we confirm schools by address.
| Community | Builders | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Landmark | Coventry, M/I, Tri Pointe, David Weekley, American Legend, Drees, Perry and more | From about $370K; Denton ISD; special-district taxes |
| Robson Ranch | Robson Resort Communities | 55-plus; about $433K–$1M+ |
| Kings Way | M/I Homes, Pulte | 50- and 60-ft lots; from about $340K; no MUD/PID |
| Eagle Creek | KB Home, D.R. Horton | From about $320K; no MUD/PID |
| Stella Hills | Meritage Homes | About $361K–$444K |
| The Meadows & Parkside | First Texas Homes | From about $290K and $388K |
Builders and incentives change often. Bring us to your first model-home visit and we’ll represent you, not the builder. How we help new-build buyers →
04Market
Zillow’s typical Denton home value was about $343,200 in September 2026, down about 3% from a year earlier. Across Denton’s six main ZIP codes, Realtor.com counted about 560 active listings, with median list prices from about $296,000 in 76201 (around UNT and downtown) to about $446,000 in 76207 (the Landmark and Robson Ranch side) and median days on market of about 55 to 79.
Denton behaves like several markets at once. Smaller homes near campus attract investors and first-time buyers, while new-construction areas compete with builder incentives, so we price and shop by ZIP code and neighborhood rather than by city averages.
Live from the NTREIS MLS for homes in Denton (houses, townhomes and condos). Sold figures cover the last 60 days.
Monthly Denton market report with trends Compare Denton with nearby towns
Thinking of selling in Denton?
Get a free, local Comparative Market Analysis — not an automated guess.
05Budget
Inside city limits, Denton’s 2025 combined rate is about $1.99 per $100: the city ($0.59542), Denton ISD ($1.2069) and Denton County ($0.185938). The rate sheet lists no college or hospital district. Denton ISD’s 2025 rate includes 5 cents voters approved in November 2025.
Rates are coming down for 2026: the city adopted $0.548485 in September 2026 and Denton ISD adopted $1.1528, which would put the in-city total near $1.89 if the county rate holds.
| Taxing unit | Rate per $100 of value |
|---|---|
| City of Denton (2025) | $0.595420 |
| Denton ISD (2025) | $1.206900 |
| Denton County (2025) | $0.185938 |
| Typical total (in city, no MUD) | ≈ $1.99 |
| MUD, if applicable (e.g., Landmark) | Listings show ≈ 2.7% total |
At about 1.99% before exemptions, a $343,000 home in city limits would owe roughly $6,800 a year. The $140,000 school homestead exemption lowers that noticeably.
A few Denton addresses are in Argyle, Krum, Ponder or Sanger ISD, each with its own rate, and master plans like Landmark add a special district. We pull the exact taxing units for every home.
| Service | Provider |
|---|---|
| Electricity | Denton Municipal Electric (city-owned; no retail choice) |
| Water, sewer & trash | City of Denton |
| Natural gas | Atmos Energy (where available) |
Tax rates are the adopted 2025 rates and change every year. Verify any address with the Denton Central Appraisal District before you buy. Estimate your payment →
06Education
Denton ISD covers about 186 square miles and 18-plus communities, with about 33,000 students in 2025–26 across more than 40 campuses. TEA rated the district B (80) in 2025; Guyer High earned an A (92), Ryan a B (86), Denton High a B (82) and Braswell a C (78). In TEA’s 2026 release the district fell to a C (76).
Voters approved a $1.4 billion bond in 2023, which funds Mia Price High School in Cross Roads, the district’s fifth comprehensive high school, set to open in 2028–29 with the Jim Alexander Advanced Technology Center.
| School district | What to know |
|---|---|
| Denton ISD | Most of the city; B (80) in 2025, with Guyer A (92) and Ryan B (86). |
| Argyle, Krum, Ponder & Sanger ISDs | Small parts of the city. Confirm by address. |
School boundaries change as districts grow. We confirm the assigned campuses for every home before you make an offer.
07Location
I-35E and I-35W meet in Denton to form I-35, and Loop 288, US-380, US-77 and US-377 run through the city. DCTA runs local buses and the A-train, a 21-mile commuter line from the Downtown Denton Transit Center to the DART Green Line at Trinity Mills in Carrollton. Denton Enterprise Airport serves general aviation about 3 miles west of downtown.
| Destination | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Lewisville (Old Town) | ~15 mi | About 20 min |
| AllianceTexas, Fort Worth | ~25 mi | About 40 min |
| DFW Airport | ~27 mi | About 40 min |
| Legacy West, Plano | ~27 mi | About 37 min |
| Downtown Fort Worth | ~37 mi | About 45 min |
| Downtown Dallas | ~39 mi | About 50 min; longer at rush hour |
Drive times are typical off-peak estimates. Allow more time at rush hour.
08Lifestyle
The 1896 courthouse anchors a historic square of local shops, restaurants and music venues.
A free three-day festival each September, now held at the North Texas Fairgrounds.
Held every year since 2007 and billed as Texas’s longest-running documentary film festival.
A Denton tradition that dates to 1928.
College football, basketball and more at the University of North Texas.
Camping, swimming and trails at Ray Roberts Lake State Park to the north, and Lewisville Lake about 15 miles south.
09Everyday life
Education is Denton’s biggest industry, led by UNT, and the city is also home to Peterbilt’s headquarters, Sally Beauty and a growing industrial base. The city also runs its own electric, water, wastewater and solid-waste utilities.
10Quick answers
Denton (about 169,000 residents in 2025) offers a historic square, two universities, a lively music and festival scene and typical home values near $343,000. The trade-offs are a tax rate near 2% and a 40- to 50-minute drive to Dallas or Fort Worth.
Denton County. The city is the county seat.
About $1.99 per $100 inside city limits for 2025: city $0.59542, Denton ISD $1.2069 and Denton County $0.185938. For 2026 the city adopted $0.548485 and Denton ISD $1.1528. Master plans with special districts, such as Landmark, run higher.
Mostly Denton ISD, which earned a B (80) in 2025 and a C (76) in 2026. Guyer High earned an A (92) and Ryan a B (86) in 2025. A few addresses are in Argyle, Krum, Ponder or Sanger ISD.
About 39 miles to downtown Dallas (around 50 minutes off-peak) and 37 miles to downtown Fort Worth (about 45 minutes). DFW Airport is about 27 miles away.
Yes. The DCTA A-train runs 21 miles from downtown Denton to Trinity Mills in Carrollton, where you can transfer to the DART Green Line.
Denton Municipal Electric, the city-owned utility, which has served Denton since 1905. Residents in its area don’t choose a retail provider.
Zillow’s typical home value was about $343,000 in September 2026, down about 3% from a year earlier. Median list prices range from about $296,000 near UNT to about $446,000 in 76207.
Yes. Robson Ranch is an active-adult community with Wildhorse Golf Club and a large clubhouse, with homes from about $433,000 to more than $1 million.
Crime statistics are published by the Denton Police Department. We encourage every buyer to review the data for the specific area they are considering and to visit at different times of day. As agents, we share data sources rather than opinions about which neighborhoods are “safe.”
About this guide. Written by Karli Vasek, REALTOR® of Ten Twenty Realty (TREC #0784847), and reviewed October 2026. Facts come from public sources, including: U.S. Census Bureau (Vintage 2025), Texas Education Agency, 2025 DFW tax rates (Denton CAD units), Denton County 2025 tax rate (KERA), Community Impact: Denton FY2025–26 budget and tax rate, Community Impact: Denton FY2026–27 tax rate, Community Impact: Denton ISD 2026–27 tax rate, Denton ISD, Denton ISD 2023 bond, TEA 2025: Denton ISD, DCTA, Landmark (Jome), Robson Ranch, Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, Zillow home value index, Realtor.com ZIP market data.
Your Denton expert
Karli serves buyers and sellers across Denton County and the DFW metroplex, and helps Denton buyers compare neighborhoods, school zones and MUD versus city tax rates.
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