Northlake, TX at a Glance

Northlake is a town of about 12,000 people in southwest Denton County, incorporated in 1960 but largely rural until the last decade. The town covers about 18 square miles and is at the intersection of I-35W and SH 114, which puts it between Fort Worth, Denton, and the Alliance employment corridor.

Northlake recorded about 5,500 residents in the 2020 Census. By 2024, the town’s own estimate put that figure near 12,000. That’s more than double in under five years, driven almost entirely by master-planned communities like Pecan Square, Canyon Falls, and The Ridge at Northlake.

Most of what’s being built here is new construction. If you’re looking for established neighborhoods with mature trees and older homes, you won’t find them in Northlake. Northlake is being built in real time, and buyers relocating here are choosing it for the newer housing stock, the school district access, and the position along the I-35W growth corridor.

Home Prices in Northlake, TX in 2026

The median sale price in Northlake is about $450,000 as of early 2026.

Here’s what prices look like by community:

Pecan Square has the widest range, from D.R. Horton starter homes in the mid $300s to Toll Brothers and Drees builds on half-acre lots over $1 million. Canyon Falls spans three cities (Northlake, Argyle, and Flower Mound), so your price point, school district, and tax rate depend on which section you’re in.

In February 2026, Northlake saw 19 new listings and 17 homes go pending. Buyers are active in the $450,000 to $750,000 range. Builder incentives on new construction include rate buy-downs and closing cost contributions in most communities.

Property Taxes in Northlake, TX

The Town of Northlake’s property tax rate is $0.295 per $100 of assessed value, but the town rate is only one piece of your total bill. Your actual property taxes depend on where in Northlake you buy, because most new construction communities here are inside special taxing districts.

The base effective tax rate in Northlake is about 1.3%, but that can climb upwards of 2.3% in a special district.

On a $450,000 home inside a special district at a 2.3% effective rate, you’d pay roughly $10,350 per year in property taxes. The same home without a special district overlay would cost closer to $5,850. That $4,500 annual difference is the single biggest financial detail that catches new buyers off guard in Northlake.

The $140,000 homestead exemption on the school district portion helps reduce taxable value but doesn’t eliminate the special district cost. These districts fund infrastructure newer communities need, including roads, water lines, parks, and drainage. The rates can decrease over time as bonds are paid off, but timelines vary by district.

It’s important to ask for the full tax rate breakdown by address before making an offer. You can verify rates with the Denton Central Appraisal District.

School Districts Serving Northlake, TX

Three separate school districts serve Northlake, and which one your address feeds into depends entirely on where you buy, so verify this early when house hunting.

Northwest ISD in Northlake

Northwest ISD serves most of the town, including Pecan Square and portions of Canyon Falls. The district has an A- rating on Niche and enrolls about 30,700 students. Pecan Square has Johnie Daniel Elementary on-site, and Barksdale Middle School opens in August 2026.

Argyle ISD in Northlake

Argyle ISD serves portions of Northlake, including The Ridge at Northlake and sections of Canyon Falls. Argyle ISD has an A+ on Niche and is one of the highest-rated districts in Denton County. Confirm zoning at the address level, because the boundary doesn’t follow community lines.

Ponder ISD in Northlake

A small portion of Northlake falls within Ponder ISD boundaries. Ponder ISD is smaller and serves a limited area within the town. If you’re buying in the western sections of Northlake, verify whether your address feeds into Ponder ISD.

New Construction Communities in Northlake, TX

New construction dominates Northlake. Here’s what’s actively building as of early 2026.

Pecan Square by Hillwood

Pecan Square is Northlake’s centerpiece community, developed by Hillwood and covering over 1,200 acres. You’ll find the widest range of builders and price points here.

Standard lots start in the mid $300s with D.R. Horton and go up through the $500s and $600s with Highland Homes, David Weekley, Coventry, and Pulte. Toll Brothers, Drees, and Ashton Woods build on larger lots, with prices from about $850,000 to over $1 million on half-acre homesites.

The Town Square includes a fitness center, two swimming pools, co-working space, Amazon Hub lockers, and a 22,000-square-foot event space.

Pecan Square is inside MMD 1, which adds $0.705 per $100 to your tax bill on top of the standard town, county, and school district rates.

Canyon Falls

Canyon Falls is a 1,200-acre community spanning Northlake, Argyle, and Flower Mound. The Northlake section is served by Northwest ISD, while portions in Argyle feed into Argyle ISD. Prices range from the $400s to over $900,000, with multiple builders active.

The community carries a WCID tax at $0.695 per $100. Because Canyon Falls crosses city lines, your tax rate, school district, and city services depend on which section you’re in.

The Ridge at Northlake

The Ridge at Northlake offers single-family homes on 60-foot lots, with David Weekley Homes as the primary builder. Prices start around $510,000 and go into the high $700s, with some as-built homes in the $800s.

The community is zoned for Argyle ISD. Amenities include a fitness facility, resort-style pool, adventure play area, walking trails, and fire pit gathering spaces. As of early 2026, about 22 quick-delivery homes were available.

Harvest by Hillwood

Harvest is a 1,200-acre agrihood developed by Hillwood that straddles both Northlake and Argyle along I-35W and FM 407. At full build-out, the community will have over 4,000 home sites. Prices start in the low $300s for townhomes and go past $1.7 million on acreage lots, with most single-family buyers landing in the $400s to $700s. Active builders include Highland Homes, David Weekley, Toll Brothers, Coventry, Drees, Taylor Morrison, Tri Pointe, and CB JENI.

The centerpiece is a six-acre working farm run by a full-time farmer, which is where the agrihood label comes from. Other amenities include a 1.5-mile Central Park, the Fit Barn gym, multiple resort pools, a coffee shop (Farmhouse Coffee & Treasures), and over 20 miles of trails.

School district zoning depends on where your lot sits. Sections of Harvest feed into Northwest ISD and others into Argyle ISD, with three elementary schools on-site: Lance Thompson Elementary (Northwest ISD), Argyle West Elementary (Argyle ISD), and Jane Ruestmann Elementary (Argyle ISD).

Harvest is inside Belmont Fresh Water Supply District No. 1, which adds $1.00 per $100 to your tax bill. That’s a higher overlay than Pecan Square’s MMD or Canyon Falls’ WCID, so run the full rate by address before making an offer.

Commute Times from Northlake, TX

Northlake is at the intersection of I-35W and SH 114, which gives you two main commute corridors heading south and east.

Fort Worth: About 20 miles south on I-35W, roughly 30 to 40 minutes in light traffic. During peak hours, expect 45 to 55 minutes.

Dallas: About 35 miles east, 45 to 50 minutes in normal conditions and over an hour during rush hour.

DFW Airport: About 17 miles, typically a 20-minute drive.

Alliance corridor: Alliance Airport and major distribution and corporate campuses are within 15 minutes of most Northlake neighborhoods.

Denton: About 10 miles north on I-35W, a 15 to 20 minute drive.

Westlake and Southlake (Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Deloitte): About 15 to 20 miles east on SH 114, roughly 20 to 30 minutes in normal traffic.

The I-35W and SH 114 interchange handles over 115,000 vehicles per day, and rush hour congestion is significant. If you work in the Alliance corridor or along the SH 114 corridor toward Westlake, the commute works, but if you commute daily to downtown Dallas, you’ll have to factor in both distance and time.

Dining and Local Life in Northlake, TX

Northlake’s dining scene is still developing, though more options are opening. Here’s what’s active as of early 2026:

• Bella’s Italian Bistro for pasta and Italian classics
• Tequila Ranch Cocina for Mexican food and margaritas
• Kurogi Ramen and Sushi for Japanese ramen bowls and sushi
• Backporch Drafthouse for burgers, wings, and craft beer
• Northlake Cafe for breakfast and lunch
• Burgers & Curries for an American-Indian fusion menu
• Gyro and Grill
• Little Joe’s Farmstead
• Hilltop Truck Park
• Oak and Main

Northlake still doesn’t have the dining depth of Roanoke or Southlake. For a wider range of restaurants, Roanoke’s Oak Street corridor and the SH 114 retail stretch toward Trophy Club are both a 10 to 15 minute drive away.

Pecan Square’s Town Square adds some convenience, including a co-working space, fitness center, and event programming. But if you’re used to having a Target, grocery store, and restaurants within walking distance, you’ll notice the gaps. Retail and commercial development is lagging behind the residential build-out, and that’s a tradeoff worth understanding before buying a home.

Cons of Living in Northlake, TX

Limited dining and retail

Northlake is still catching up on the commercial side. Grocery options, retail, and restaurant variety are limited compared to more established suburbs. You’ll drive to Roanoke, Trophy Club, or Denton for most errands beyond the basics.

Special district taxes

Most new construction communities in Northlake carry a MUD, MMD, or WCID overlay that pushes your effective property tax rate well above the base rate. On a $450,000 home, the difference between a special district address and a non-special-district address can be $4,500 or more per year. This is the single most important financial detail to understand before buying here.

Construction and road congestion

Northlake is building fast, and that means ongoing construction traffic, road work, and the dust and noise that come with it. I-35W and SH 114 are both high-traffic corridors, and the growth in this part of the county is adding to congestion year over year.

Distance from Dallas

If your job is in downtown Dallas or east of Dallas, Northlake puts you 35 miles or more from work. That’s manageable for hybrid schedules, but a daily commute to central Dallas will wear on you over time.

Early-stage community feel

Northlake is growing fast. Some areas are fully built out with amenities and landscaping in place. Others are still under construction with bare lots, staging areas, and incomplete infrastructure. The town today will be noticeably different in 2030.

How Northlake Compares to Neighboring Suburbs

Northlake’s price point is notably lower than Argyle, Roanoke, and Trophy Club. The tradeoff is that you’re buying into a town still building its commercial and community infrastructure. Argyle offers a higher price point with Argyle ISD across the board. Roanoke has a more established downtown and dining scene. Trophy Club is closer to Southlake and Westlake amenities but costs more.

If new construction and school district access at a lower price point appeal to you, Northlake is worth considering. And if you need relocation guidance on which North Texas suburb actually fits your budget and lifestyle, check out our relocation guide.