Choose Highland Park if Highland Park ISD, a small town government with its own public safety department, and walkable, tree-lined blocks matter most. Choose Preston Hollow if you want more land, often an acre or more, inside the City of Dallas, and you are comfortable choosing between Dallas ISD campuses and private schools.
The two areas have different civic roots. Highland Park's 500 residents voted to incorporate on November 29, 1913, and the town remains independent at 2.26 square miles with about 8,900 residents (Town of Highland Park). Preston Hollow took another path: it incorporated as a township in 1939 and was annexed by Dallas in 1945 (D Magazine, January 2025).
How do the schools compare?
This is usually the deciding factor.
Highland Park ISD (as listed on the district's website):
- More than 6,150 students across eight campuses.
- Five elementary schools (Armstrong, Boone, Bradfield, Hyer and University Park) serving Pre-K through 4th grade.
- McCulloch Intermediate (grades 5 and 6), Highland Park Middle School (7 and 8) and Highland Park High School (9 through 12).
- Students must reside within district boundaries, and families submit annual proof of residency.
Dallas ISD in Preston Hollow:
- Most of Preston Hollow is in Dallas ISD. Hillcrest High School says it serves communities including Preston Hollow, with Franklin Middle School and the Frank, Kramer, Pershing, Preston Hollow and Rogers elementary schools in its feeder pattern.
- Addresses toward the edges of the broader area may fall in other feeder patterns.
Many Preston Hollow families also use nearby private schools, including St. Mark's School of Texas on Preston Road and The Hockaday School on Welch Road. HPISD's boundaries also reach into part of Dallas: Boone Elementary, opened in August 2020 on Durham Street, is the district's only school inside the City of Dallas (Highland Park ISD). Confirm any address with each district's locator. For enrollment steps, see how to get your kids into Highland Park ISD schools.
How do city services and governance differ?
Town of Highland Park: A small, independent town. Its Department of Public Safety combines law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, with 57 public safety officers trained in all three, and it has been nationally accredited by CALEA since 1988 (Town of Highland Park). The town also has its own zoning ordinance, first adopted in 1929.
City of Dallas (Preston Hollow): Services come from a large city: Dallas Police, Dallas Fire-Rescue, and City of Dallas sanitation, zoning and permitting. Building and teardown rules follow the Dallas Development Code, including Article X tree preservation. Preston Hollow is not on the City's list of conservation districts, so new homes do not go through neighborhood design review.
Practical differences to weigh:
- Who you call. A town hall a few miles away versus a large city's departments and council district.
- Permitting. Each government has its own building rules, and a project planned in one does not transfer to the other.
- Property taxes. Rates differ by city and school district. Compare the current adopted rates for a specific address through the Dallas County Tax Office and your appraisal notice.
How do lots and homes differ?
Preston Hollow began with one-acre country lots platted in the 1920s, and estates on its best-known streets run larger: Candy's Dirt has described Strait Lane estates of 1 to 25 acres (Candy's Dirt, September 2017). City of Dallas single-family districts common in North Dallas include R-1ac(A) (one-acre minimum) and R-1/2ac(A) (half-acre minimum), though zoning varies by parcel. In Old Preston Hollow, D Magazine notes, houses sit far back on their lots and most are large traditional estates of varying ages.
Highland Park is denser. The town's zoning ordinance sets single-family districts with minimum lot areas from 6,500 square feet up to 5 acres, depending on the district (Town of Highland Park Zoning Ordinance). D Magazine describes leafy avenues with impressively sized houses, and notes that land values often exceed the value of original homes, which drives rebuilding. The town says its name reflects higher ground and the 20% of developed land reserved for park space, and Highland Park Village opened there in 1931.
Who tends to prefer each?
Preston Hollow often fits buyers who:
- Want acreage, privacy and a long drive.
- Plan to use private schools, or are comfortable with Dallas ISD options.
- Want room for a pool, sport court or guest house on one lot.
Highland Park often fits buyers who:
- Put Highland Park ISD first.
- Want a walkable street grid, parks and a small-town government.
- Accept a smaller lot for location.
How can The Agency Dallas help in Preston Hollow?
The Agency Dallas represents buyers and sellers in Preston Hollow and Highland Park. If you are buying, send us your budget, timing and must-haves (schools, lot size, walkability), and we will build a side-by-side shortlist. If you own a home, request a home valuation. Start on our Preston Hollow page or our Highland Park page, or call (469) 839-6020. We follow up within one business day. The Agency Dallas also helps relocating families compare Preston Hollow with nearby areas; read what to know about buying in Highland Park and our Preston Hollow neighborhood guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Preston Hollow in Highland Park ISD?
Most of Preston Hollow is in Dallas ISD, and Hillcrest High School lists Preston Hollow among the communities it serves. Highland Park ISD's boundaries do include part of the City of Dallas, served by Boone Elementary. District lines do not follow neighborhood names, so check any specific address with both districts' locators before you buy.
Is Highland Park part of Dallas?
No. The Town of Highland Park is an independent municipality, incorporated in 1913 and located about 3 miles north of the center of Dallas. It has its own town government, zoning ordinance and Department of Public Safety. Preston Hollow, by contrast, has been part of the City of Dallas since residents voted for annexation in 1945.
Which has bigger lots, Preston Hollow or Highland Park?
Generally Preston Hollow. It was platted with large one-acre lots, and some estates on streets such as Strait Lane have been reported at many acres. Highland Park's zoning districts allow single-family lots as small as 6,500 square feet, though larger lots exist. Confirm any lot's size with a survey and appraisal district records.
How is police and fire service different?
Highland Park's Department of Public Safety combines police, fire and emergency medical services, with officers trained in all three. Preston Hollow is served by the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire-Rescue, like the rest of the City of Dallas. Response, staffing and contact numbers differ, so ask each department about service to a specific address.
Are property taxes higher in Preston Hollow or Highland Park?
It depends on the year and the property. Each address pays a combination of city, county, school district and other rates, and Highland Park and Dallas set different city and school rates. Compare current adopted rates for a specific address through the Dallas County Tax Office, and ask a CPA how they apply to you.
Sources
- Town of Highland Park, About Us: Quick Facts; Town Incorporation; About Us (Department of Public Safety)
- Town of Highland Park, Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 676, as amended)
- Highland Park ISD, home page (schools and grades); Enrollment
- Highland Park ISD, Boone Elementary, Our School
- Dallas ISD, Hillcrest High School, About Hillcrest
- D Magazine, Neighborhood Watch: Old Preston Hollow (January 2025)
- D Magazine Dallas Neighborhood Guide, Highland Park
- Preston Hollow Advocate, Where is Preston Hollow? (February 2015)
- Candy's Dirt, Find Dallas' Most Gracious Living with these Three Strait Lane Estates (September 2017)
- City of Dallas Planning, single-family district standards; Introduction to Conservation Districts
- The Hockaday School and St. Mark's School of Texas, school websites
Verified October 2026.
