Living in Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth ISD serves most of the city, but at least 15 other districts reach into parts of it, including Northwest, Keller, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Crowley, Birdville and Aledo ISD. Boundaries vary by address, especially in north and far west Fort Worth. Northwest ISD, which serves part of the far north, is adding Romer Elementary and Barksdale Middle School for 2026-27 and Davis High School ahead of 2027-28.

For tax year 2025, a Tarrant County address in Fort Worth ISD paid about 2.16% combined (city 0.6700, Fort Worth ISD 1.0291, Tarrant County 0.1862, JPS hospital district 0.1650, Tarrant County College 0.1123 per $100). The range runs from about 1.94% in the Denton County portion in Northwest ISD to about 2.39% in Crowley ISD, and some subdivisions add a MUD rate on top. On a $350,000 home at 2.16%, that is about $7,570 a year, or roughly $630 a month before the homestead exemption (the city offers 20%).

The eight story Law and Education Building opened August 5, 2026 in downtown's Switchyard Innovation District. The 11 story Research and Innovation Building broke ground the same day and is scheduled for 2029.^[4]

The 27,000 acre development in north Fort Worth reported more than 73,000 jobs and 602 companies, with $18.3 billion in total investment in 2025.^[5]

The 1.5 mile North Bypass Channel of the Central City Flood Control Project was in contractor bidding in 2026, with construction possibly starting before year end. No completion date has been published.^[6]

Romer Elementary in Sendera Ranch and Barksdale Middle School open for 2026-27, and Davis High School, the district's fourth, is expected ahead of 2027-28.^[7]

Power to Choose lists Oncor as the delivery utility for Fort Worth ZIPs such as 76102, 76107, 76131 and 76177, so you choose a retail electric plan on that site.^[17]

Open a City of Fort Worth water account by calling Water Customer Service at 817-392-4477 at least one day ahead; there is a $20 activation charge and a $50 minimum deposit, which a utility credit letter can waive. The city's Solid Waste Services runs weekly garbage and recycling pickup.^[18]

Once you own and live in the home, file the residence homestead exemption with the Tarrant Appraisal District. It is free and you never need to pay a company to do it. TAD asks for a Texas driver license or ID whose address matches the home.^[20]

Fort Worth ISD: new students enroll through the district's Enroll Now page, and its boundary maps show the campus for an address. Much of north Fort Worth is in other districts, so check first. Parts of the city are zoned to Northwest ISD, Keller ISD, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Crowley ISD or Aledo ISD, so check the address before you fall in love with a house.^[21]

Register your vehicle with the Tarrant County Tax Office (100 E. Weatherford St., Fort Worth). Homes in the Denton County part of Fort Worth register in Denton County 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, the Fort Worth Mega Center is at 8301 Brentwood Stair Rd. (appointments required); DPS lets you drive on a valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days after moving.^[23]