Photo: Wikipedia
Quality of Life in Highland Park, TX
Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
282% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Highland Park, TX for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $66k | $125k |
| Comfortable | $539k | $792k |
| Luxury | $701k+ | $1.1M+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $993k+ | $1.5M+ |
32%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
0 within 10 miles
Gas
0 within 10 miles
Hospital
3 within 20 miles
Airport
DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International
Post Office
USPS — Allen, TX
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Highland Park, Texas, is an affluent, tightly knit enclave within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, consistently ranking among the wealthiest small towns in the United States. With a cost-of-living index of 382 (nearly four times the national average of 100), the town is home to a population of high-net-worth professionals, executives, and families drawn by its historic prestige, top-tier public schools, and proximity to downtown Dallas. The median home value of $1,887,300 and median rent of $2,216 reflect a market that is both exclusive and stable, attracting those who prioritize walkable, tree-lined streets and a low-crime environment over lower housing costs.
Cost of living, housing prices, and affordability compared to nearby Dallas neighborhoods
Highland Park’s cost of living is dramatically elevated relative to both the national baseline and neighboring areas. While the median home value in Dallas proper hovers around $350,000, Highland Park’s $1.9 million median places it in the top 1% of U.S. housing markets. Rents, though high at $2,216 per month, are less extreme compared to luxury apartments in Uptown Dallas (often exceeding $3,000), but the rental inventory in Highland Park is limited, with most units being older duplexes or townhomes. Property taxes in the Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD) are among the highest in Texas, typically exceeding 2.1% of assessed value, which adds tens of thousands of dollars annually to homeownership costs. For buyers, the premium is justified by the town’s 0.5% property crime rate and its reputation as a safe, walkable community—a stark contrast to the higher crime rates in adjacent Dallas neighborhoods like Oak Lawn or East Dallas. The average commute of 20.4 minutes is shorter than the Dallas metro average (27 minutes), a benefit of Highland Park’s central location near major employers such as Texas Instruments, AT&T, and the Dallas Arts District.
Parks, schools, and what daily life feels like for residents
Daily life in Highland Park revolves around its highly rated public schools, expansive parks, and a pedestrian-friendly layout. The Highland Park Independent School District is consistently ranked among the top 5% in Texas, with Highland Park High School boasting a 98% graduation rate and average SAT scores above 1300. The town’s 12 parks, including the 13-acre Goar Park and the 40-acre Caruth Park, offer tennis courts, playgrounds, and walking trails that are heavily used by families. The commercial corridor along Preston Road and Mockingbird Lane features upscale boutiques, restaurants like Patrizio’s and Bistro 31, and the historic Highland Park Village shopping center, which anchors the social scene. The rhythm is notably suburban and quiet—crime is rare, traffic is manageable outside of school drop-off hours, and the town’s strict zoning codes preserve its manicured, pre-war character. Residents frequently walk to the village for coffee or dinner, and the community calendar is filled with events like the Highland Park Fourth of July parade and the Park Cities Home Tour.
Highland Park is best suited for families and professionals who value elite public education, low crime, and a walkable, affluent suburban atmosphere within minutes of a major city. It is less ideal for budget-conscious buyers, renters seeking nightlife, or those who prefer a more diverse or urban environment. For those who can afford the premium—and who prioritize safety, school quality, and community prestige—Highland Park offers a quality of life that is difficult to match in the Dallas area.
Crime in Highland Park, TX
Lower crime rates than 76% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Highland Park, Texas, is one of the safest communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, with violent crime rates dramatically below both state and national averages. The town’s violent crime rate of 45.8 incidents per 100,000 residents is roughly one-tenth the U.S. average, while its property crime rate of 2,484 per 100,000 sits below the national median but slightly above the Texas average. These figures reflect a community where serious crime is rare, though property offenses like theft and burglary remain the most common public safety concerns.
Crime in context
Highland Park’s violent crime rate is 91% lower than the national average and 85% lower than the Texas average, placing it among the safest municipalities in the state. For context, the national violent crime rate in 2024 was approximately 380 per 100,000, while Texas averaged around 440 per 100,000. The town’s property crime rate, while higher than its violent crime figure, is still 17% below the national average of roughly 2,900 per 100,000. However, it is about 15% above the Texas average of 2,160 per 100,000, driven largely by larceny-theft and vehicle break-ins common in affluent suburbs. These numbers are a direct result of the town’s well-funded police department and conservative judicial environment in Dallas County’s northern precincts, where prosecutors prioritize public safety over progressive diversion programs that can lead to repeat offenses in other parts of the metro area.
What residents experience
Residents of Highland Park report feeling safe walking, jogging, and shopping in the town’s commercial corridors, such as Preston Road and Mockingbird Lane. The most frequent police calls involve property crimes—particularly thefts from unlocked vehicles and package thefts—rather than violent confrontations. The town’s violent crime is almost entirely non-random, typically involving domestic disputes or acquaintance incidents rather than stranger-on-stranger attacks. Highland Park’s proximity to Dallas means residents benefit from the city’s amenities while avoiding the elevated crime rates found in nearby urban neighborhoods. The local police department maintains a visible presence, with officers patrolling on bicycles and in marked vehicles, and the town’s neighborhood watch programs are highly active, further deterring opportunistic crime.
Neighborhood-level variation within Highland Park is minimal, as the town is uniformly affluent and well-policed. The eastern sections near the Dallas border see slightly higher property crime due to easier access from major thoroughfares, but violent crime remains consistently low across all blocks. Homeowners in the town’s gated or private-street enclaves report even fewer incidents, while renters near the commercial district along Lovers Lane may experience slightly more vehicle-related theft. Overall, Highland Park’s safety profile is a strong positive for families and professionals seeking a secure suburban environment within the Dallas metro area, particularly when compared to cities with progressive district attorneys who deprioritize property crime enforcement.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-14T23:44:33.000Z
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