Living in Dallas, Texas

Most of Dallas is in Dallas ISD, but not all of it. Lake Highlands is largely served by Richardson ISD (Lake Highlands High School is an RISD campus), Far North Dallas splits among Richardson ISD, Plano ISD and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD depending on the county, and other districts serve pockets at the city's edges. Dallas ISD voters approved a $6.2 billion bond on May 2, 2026 that plans 26 replacement schools, so always confirm the zoned campuses by address before you buy.

For tax year 2025, a Dallas County address in Dallas ISD paid about 2.23% combined (city 0.6988, Dallas ISD 0.9938, Dallas County 0.2155, Parkland Hospital 0.2120, Dallas College 0.1066 per $100). Inside Richardson ISD the total rises to about 2.34%. On a $400,000 home at 2.23%, that is about $8,900 a year, or roughly $740 a month before homestead exemptions, which lower the real bill (the city offers a 20% homestead exemption and a $175,000 exemption for owners 65 and older or disabled).

Approved by voters on May 2, 2026, roughly 3 to 1. The plan calls for 26 new schools replacing buildings that average about 70 years old, plus renovations at every campus.^[3]

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center rebuild totals 2.1 million square feet and is set to debut in 2030. Demolition of older halls is underway.^[4]

An 800,000 square foot, 14 story campus in the NorthEnd development near Victory Park, designed for more than 5,000 employees and expected to finish in late 2027.^[5]

Opened October 25, 2025: a 26 mile commuter rail line with 10 stations running from DFW Airport Terminal B through Carrollton, Addison and Richardson to Shiloh Road in Plano.^[6]

Power to Choose lists Oncor as the delivery utility across Dallas ZIPs such as 75201, 75214, 75248 and 75287, so you choose a retail electric plan on that site.^[19]

Open a Dallas Water Utilities account online through DallasGo, by phone at (214) 651-1441 or at City Hall (1500 Marilla St.). Owners and buyers of the home can skip the deposit. The same bill carries the city's monthly sanitation fee for trash and recycling.^[20]

Once you own and live in the home, file the residence homestead exemption with the Dallas Central Appraisal District. It is free and you never need to pay a company to do it. DCAD states that filing is free of charge with the district.^[22]

Dallas ISD: the district's Enroll / Find Your School page handles enrollment and shows the zoned campus. Some Dallas neighborhoods are in other districts, so check the address first. Parts of the city are zoned to Richardson ISD, Plano ISD or Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, so check the address before you fall in love with a house.^[23]

Register your vehicle with the Dallas County Tax Office (500 Elm St., Dallas). Homes in the Collin or Denton County parts of Dallas register with that county's tax office instead. Texas DMV gives new residents 30 days to register, and this is an emissions county, so pass a state inspection first. For your license, DPS lists the Dallas-South Mega Center and the North Garland Mega Center (5250 N. President George Bush Hwy.) for Dallas County, and the Carrollton Mega Center (4600 State Hwy. 121) is close to North Dallas (appointments required); DPS lets you drive on a valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days after moving.^[24]