Neither is better across the board. Both send children to Highland Park ISD, and both are independent municipalities surrounded by Dallas. Highland Park is smaller and older, built around Turtle Creek parkland and close to Highland Park Village. University Park is larger, grew up around SMU, and has Snider Plaza. The right choice depends on the street and the house.
Buyers often treat the two as one place, but they are separate governments with their own councils, zoning codes, permit offices, public safety and tax rates.
How do the two towns compare at a glance?
- Government: The Town of Highland Park was incorporated in 1913 (Town of Highland Park, Quick Facts). The City of University Park was incorporated on April 12, 1924 (City of University Park, Census and Demographics).
- Size: Highland Park covers 2.26 square miles. University Park covers 3.73 square miles.
- Population: Highland Park reports about 8,900 residents. University Park counted 25,278 residents in the 2020 Census.
- Signature institutions: Highland Park has Highland Park Village and the Dallas Country Club. University Park is home to Southern Methodist University.
Are both towns in Highland Park ISD?
Yes. Highland Park ISD serves the Town of Highland Park, the City of University Park and a small section of the City of Dallas, about six square miles in all, with roughly 7,000 students (Highland Park ISD). The district runs eight campuses: Armstrong, Boone, Bradfield, Hyer and University Park elementary schools, McCulloch Intermediate, Highland Park Middle School and Highland Park High School.
The town you live in does not decide your elementary school. Attendance zones are drawn by address, so confirm the campus for any specific home with the district. Our guide to enrolling in Highland Park ISD walks through residency and registration.
How do property taxes differ?
Less than many buyers expect, because the largest pieces are shared. For tax year 2025 the Town of Highland Park rate was $0.199296 per $100 of taxable value and the City of University Park rate was $0.218565 (Dallas County Tax Office, 2025 Tax Rates). Homes in both towns also pay Highland Park ISD ($0.8347), Dallas County, Parkland Hospital and Dallas College. On most bills, the school district rate and each home's appraised value matter far more than the town rate.
How are town services different?
Each government delivers its own services, and the differences show up in daily life.
- Public safety: Highland Park runs a Department of Public Safety whose officers are cross-trained in police, fire and EMS and work each discipline every shift (Town of Highland Park, Fire/EMS). University Park funds separate police and fire departments (City of University Park, FY2026 Budget Memo).
- Trash and recycling: Highland Park collects garbage twice a week, recycling on Wednesdays and bulky items through a Wednesday front collection (Town of Highland Park, Sanitation Services). University Park collects trash twice a week from the alley side of each home (City of University Park, Residential Collection).
- Utilities: University Park operates its own water distribution and bills water, sewer, stormwater and sanitation monthly.
- Permits and zoning: Each town has its own building codes, zoning districts, construction rules and Board of Adjustment, so a renovation plan that works in one may not work across the line.
How does the housing feel different?
Highland Park was planned from the start around green space. The town says one-fifth of its developed land was reserved for parks, and Lakeside Park runs about 14 acres along Turtle Creek (Town of Highland Park; People Newspapers). Streets curve around the creek and parks, and many lots are generous. Our post on the most desirable streets in Highland Park covers Beverly Drive, Lakeside Drive and Armstrong Parkway.
University Park grew outward from SMU. At incorporation it had about 380 homes, and it passed 20,000 residents by 1945 (People Newspapers, University Park community guide). Its zoning code sets single-family districts with minimum lot areas from 7,000 square feet up to 35,000 square feet (City of University Park, Zoning Ordinance, Article 2), so lot sizes vary widely from block to block. Pockets such as Volk Estates, a 1920s enclave of architect-designed estate homes, sit inside a mostly gridded city.
In both towns, older homes are regularly replaced with new construction. If you are weighing that choice, see our guide on whether to renovate or tear down in Highland Park and University Park.
Where do residents shop and eat?
- Highland Park Village: Construction began in 1931, and the center was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Its nomination calls it a pivotal point in the evolution of the shopping center (National Park Service).
- Snider Plaza: A three-block district of shops, bakeries and restaurants at Hillcrest Road and Lovers Lane in University Park, often described as the city's town square.
- The Plaza at Preston Center: Home to the University Park Public Library at Preston Road and Northwest Highway.
Who tends to prefer each town?
Highland Park often suits buyers who want proximity to Highland Park Village, Turtle Creek parkland and the town's single public safety department, and who like the feel of a small town of about 8,900 people. University Park often suits buyers who want walkable access to Snider Plaza and SMU, a broader range of lot sizes, and a larger city with more parks spread across it. Many buyers search both.
How can The Agency Dallas help in Highland Park?
The Agency Dallas represents buyers and sellers in Highland Park and University Park. If you are buying, send us your budget, timing and must-haves (lot size, school campus, walkability), and we will show you which blocks in each town fit. If you own in either town, request a home valuation. Start on our Highland Park page or our University Park page, or call (469) 839-6020. We follow up within one business day. The Agency Dallas helps relocating families compare Highland Park and University Park side by side before they make an offer.
Frequently asked questions
Do Highland Park and University Park share a school district?
Yes. Highland Park ISD serves both towns plus a small section of the City of Dallas. Elementary attendance zones are drawn by address, not by town, so two homes a few blocks apart can feed different elementary schools. All students then attend McCulloch Intermediate, Highland Park Middle School and Highland Park High School.
Which town has lower property taxes?
For tax year 2025, the Town of Highland Park rate was slightly lower than the City of University Park rate, according to the Dallas County Tax Office. Both towns share the Highland Park ISD, county, hospital and college rates, which make up most of the bill, so the town rate alone rarely decides affordability.
Is SMU in Highland Park or University Park?
Southern Methodist University is in University Park. The university predates the city, and University Park began as a cluster of homes around the campus before incorporating in 1924. Homes near campus can see more traffic and activity on event days, which some buyers enjoy and others prefer to avoid.
Is Highland Park Village in University Park?
No. Highland Park Village is in the Town of Highland Park. University Park's main neighborhood shopping district is Snider Plaza at Hillcrest Road and Lovers Lane, and the city's public library sits in the Plaza at Preston Center. Residents of both towns use all three, since they are only a short drive apart.
Are the building rules the same in both towns?
No. Each town adopts its own building codes, zoning districts and construction rules, and each has its own Board of Adjustment for variances. Height limits, setbacks and permit procedures differ. Before you buy a home you plan to renovate or replace, confirm the rules with the town where the property sits.
Sources
- Town of Highland Park, About Us: Quick Facts; Fire/EMS; Sanitation Services
- City of University Park, Census and Demographics; Residential Collection; FY2026 Budget Memo; Zoning Ordinance, Article 2 (Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14A)
- Highland Park ISD, About the district and campus list
- Dallas County Tax Office, 2025 Tax Rates
- National Park Service, National Register nomination for Highland Park Shopping Village
- People Newspapers, Highland Park and University Park community guides
Verified October 2026.
