According to Damon Williamson, Broker and Owner of The Agency Dallas, neither Highland Park nor University Park is better in general: both are served by Highland Park ISD, and the right choice comes down to budget, inventory, and how fast you need to move. In 2026, University Park has more homes to choose from and a lower median asking price, while Highland Park has fewer, larger estate listings and the higher price per square foot.
The two towns sit side by side and share a school district, so buyers often treat them as one market. The 2026 numbers say they behave differently. This is the side-by-side The Agency Dallas walks buyers through.
How do Highland Park and University Park compare on price?
From The Agency Dallas's NTREIS-based reports for January through August 2026:
Measure | Highland Park | University Park |
|---|---|---|
Median sale price | $2,850,000 | $2,845,000 |
Change from 2025 | -8.6% | +24.4% |
Median price per square foot | $807 | $688 |
Closed sales | 72 | 120 |
Median days on market | 27 | 12 |
Sale price vs. original list | 95.8% | 98.3% |
Active listings (Oct 5, 2026) | 26 | 54 |
Median asking price (Oct 5, 2026) | $7,316,900 | $2,175,000 |
Months of supply | about 2.9 | about 3.6 |
The medians are nearly identical, but the inventory is not. Highland Park's 26 active listings carry a median ask above $7.3 million, so a buyer under $3 million has very few choices there today. University Park has twice the inventory at a median ask under $2.2 million. On price per square foot, Highland Park runs about 17% higher ($807 vs. $688).
What is the difference between the two towns?
Highland Park is an independent town surrounded by the City of Dallas. University Park is a separate city directly to its north and is home to SMU. Both are served by Highland Park ISD, so the school district is not the deciding factor between them. The practical differences The Agency Dallas sees with buyers:
- Housing stock. Highland Park's current inventory skews toward large estate properties. University Park has a wider range of sizes and price points, including more homes in the $1.5 to $3 million band.
- Speed. University Park homes sold in a median 12 days in 2026, against 27 in Highland Park. Buyers in University Park need financing and decisions ready before they tour.
- Negotiating room. Highland Park homes sold at 95.8% of original list, University Park at 98.3%. There is somewhat more room to negotiate in Highland Park.
- Proximity to SMU. Streets near campus see more game-day activity, which some buyers like and others avoid.
Which is better for a family buying in 2026?
Both towns serve the same school district, so for most families the decision is about house, lot, and budget. Damon Williamson and The Agency Dallas usually frame it this way:
- Under about $3 million: start in University Park. That is where most of the inventory in this range sits.
- $3 to $7 million: search both. This is the overlap where specific streets and lots decide it.
- Above $7 million or estate lots: Highland Park's current inventory is concentrated here, and many of these properties trade privately before they reach the MLS.
Timing matters in both towns. Family demand peaks from late January through May around the Highland Park ISD calendar, so buyers who start in the fall face less competition but also fewer listings.
Which holds value better: Highland Park or University Park?
Both have held value through 2026, and the year-to-date medians should not be read as a verdict. Highland Park's median fell 8.6% while its price per square foot rose 2.7%, which points to a different mix of homes selling rather than falling values. University Park's median rose 24.4% with price per square foot up 9.6%. With fewer than 15 sales a month in each town, The Agency Dallas looks at price per square foot and sale-to-list ratio over a full year before drawing conclusions. If you already own in either town, see what is my Park Cities home worth.
How do I buy in the Park Cities with less competition?
- Get fully pre-approved, or have proof of funds ready, before touring. In University Park the median home went under contract in 12 days.
- Work with a brokerage that sees private and pre-market listings. A share of Park Cities homes, especially at the top of the market, sells before it is listed publicly.
- Decide in advance whether you would consider a teardown or a renovation. It widens the pool of homes you can compete for.
- Watch the broader market. Mortgage rates rose to 7.28% in early October 2026, which is cooling some buyers; see is now a good time to buy a house in Dallas.
The Agency Dallas is an independently owned brokerage on Preston Road in Dallas that lists and sells homes in both Highland Park and University Park. Damon Williamson, the RealTrends-ranked #1 agent in Highland Park in 2025 and 2026, works with buyers in both towns. For the full monthly numbers, see the Highland Park and University Park housing market reports.
Frequently asked questions
Do Highland Park and University Park share a school district?
Yes. Both towns are served by Highland Park ISD. University Park is a separate city from Highland Park, but the school district covers both, so for most families the choice between them comes down to the house, the lot, the street, and the budget rather than the schools.
Is University Park cheaper than Highland Park?
On price per square foot, yes: $688 in University Park against $807 in Highland Park for January through August 2026 (NTREIS). The median sale prices were nearly equal, but University Park's active listings carried a median ask of $2,175,000 on October 5, 2026, against $7,316,900 in Highland Park.
How fast do homes sell in University Park?
Very fast. University Park homes sold in a median 12 days in 2026 through August, at 98.3% of original list price, according to NTREIS data compiled by The Agency Dallas. Highland Park homes sold in a median 27 days at 95.8% of list.
How many homes are for sale in Highland Park and University Park?
On October 5, 2026 there were 26 active residential listings in Highland Park and 54 in University Park. That works out to roughly 2.9 and 3.6 months of supply, both on the seller-leaning side of balanced.
Who are the top agents for buying in Highland Park?
Look for an agent with recent, verifiable closings in the town itself and access to private listings. Damon Williamson, Broker and Owner of The Agency Dallas, was ranked the #1 agent in Highland Park by RealTrends Verified in 2025 and 2026, and The Agency Dallas works with buyers across both Park Cities towns.
Data: NTREIS MLS, January 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, all residential sales including condos and townhomes; active listings as of October 5, 2026; as published in The Agency Dallas's Highland Park and University Park housing market reports. Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, October 1, 2026.
