Buying a home in Highland Park, Texas means competing for very limited inventory in a 2.26 square mile town where the median sale price was $2,998,572 in September 2026, according to Redfin. Most buyers come for Highland Park ISD, so verify school residency rules, property tax rates, and lot value before you write an offer.
Below is what our agents walk buyers through before the first tour.
How much does a home in Highland Park cost in 2026?
Redfin's Highland Park market page reported these figures for September 2026:
- Median sale price: $2,998,572, down 0.74% year over year
- Homes sold: 36, up 69.3% year over year
- Median days on market: 55, which is 19 days longer than a year earlier
- Sale-to-list price: 95.5%
- Median price per square foot: $883, up 21.8% from last year
Two things stand out. The sample is small, so a few large sales can move the median, and we read any single month as a snapshot. And the 95.5% sale-to-list ratio tells you buyers are negotiating: well-priced houses still move while overpriced ones sit.
For a deeper read on pricing by segment, see our Highland Park housing market report and the 2026 Highland Park luxury market report.
Why is Highland Park so expensive?
Supply is fixed. The Town of Highland Park's own quick facts page describes a town of 2.26 square miles with about 8,900 residents, incorporated in 1913, where 20% of developed land was originally set aside for parks. There is no vacant land to annex and no large subdivision coming. Every new house replaces an old one. Add a top-rated school district, a location about three miles north of downtown Dallas, and Love Field about two miles away (per the Town), and demand consistently outruns the number of houses that change hands.
What are property taxes in Highland Park?
Property taxes in Highland Park are made up of several separate rates added together. The ones buyers ask about most:
- Highland Park ISD: The board adopted a 2026-2027 total rate of $0.8128 per $100 of value ($0.6428 maintenance and operations plus $0.1700 debt service), down from $0.8347 the year before, as reported by People Newspapers on August 19, 2026.
- Town of Highland Park: The Town's adopted rate for tax year 2025 was $0.199296 per $100, according to the Town's 2026 truth-in-taxation filing with Dallas County. Confirm the current adopted rate before you budget.
- Dallas County: The Commissioners Court adopted $0.248650 per $100 for tax year 2026, up from $0.215500, per the Dallas County notice.
- Other units: Hospital district and community college rates also apply. Your title company's tax certificate will show every line.
How does the homestead exemption help?
If the house will be your primary residence, file for the homestead exemption. According to the Texas Comptroller, school districts must provide a $140,000 residence homestead exemption, with an additional $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled. The general filing deadline is before May 1. It is easy to forget in the shuffle of a move.
How do Highland Park ISD schools and residency work?
Highland Park ISD is the reason many families buy here. The district received an A rating with an overall score of 96 out of 100 in the Texas Education Agency's 2025 accountability ratings, the highest among all 5A and 6A districts in the state, as reported by People Newspapers on August 15, 2025.
The district operates eight campuses according to its enrollment page: Armstrong, Boone, Bradfield, Hyer, and University Park elementary schools, McCulloch Intermediate, Highland Park Middle School, and Highland Park High School. Attendance boundaries matter, so check any address on the HPISD boundary map before you fall in love with a house.
Residency is enforced. According to HPISD's enrollment and proof of residency FAQ:
- Families must show a deed, closing statement, or current lease, plus a water or electric bill at the same address. Cable and gas bills are not accepted.
- If you are under contract, campuses will temporarily accept a signed, executed contract, and the closing statement or deed is due the business day after closing.
- A short-term lease must extend at least two months into the semester.
- Every family re-submits proof of residency each summer. For 2026, submissions opened July 23 and were due before the first day of school on August 19.
- Missing documents trigger a 30-calendar-day grace period, after which the student is withdrawn.
Timing a purchase around the school calendar is one of the most common planning questions we get. Our guide on how to get your kids into Highland Park ISD schools goes step by step.
Should I buy an existing house or a teardown in Highland Park?
At $883 per square foot (Redfin, 2026), much of what you pay for in Highland Park is the land. That changes how buyers should evaluate older homes.
What should I check on an older Highland Park house?
- Lot dimensions and frontage. Width and depth drive what can be built later, and what the next buyer will pay.
- Foundation history. North Texas clay soils move. Ask for repair records and transferable warranties.
- Town permitting and design rules. Highland Park has its own building and zoning requirements, separate from the City of Dallas. Confirm what you can add or change before you price a renovation.
- Historic or architectural significance. Some buyers want the original house. Others plan to rebuild. Know which you are before you negotiate.
- Trees and drainage. Mature trees add value and can limit a footprint. Drainage problems are expensive on small lots.
A house priced near lot value can be a strong buy if you plan to renovate or rebuild. A newer house priced well above it needs to justify the premium.
How do I compete for a home in Highland Park?
With limited inventory, preparation is the advantage. Here is the order of operations we recommend:
- Get fully underwritten, not just pre-qualified. Jumbo loans at this price point require documentation. Sellers weigh certainty heavily.
- Decide on your must-have streets and campuses first. Our breakdown of which streets in Highland Park are the most desirable is a good starting point.
- Line up your inspector and foundation engineer in advance so your option period is used well.
- Watch for private and pre-market listings. Some high-end sellers prefer to test the market quietly before going public, so stay close to agents who hear about those homes early.
- Write clean terms. In a market where sale-to-list sits near 95.5%, price is negotiable, but a messy contract still loses to a clean one.
If you are also weighing the town next door, our comparison of Highland Park vs. University Park covers the differences in taxes, lots, and housing stock.
Why work with a local brokerage when buying in Highland Park?
The Agency Dallas helps buyers purchasing a home in Highland Park from our office on Preston Road, a short drive from the town line. We are a family owned and operated boutique brokerage, founded in January 2023, with roughly 68 agents and over $1 billion in closed sales. Buying a home in Highland Park with The Agency Dallas means working with agents who track private inventory, know the Town's rules, and understand how HPISD residency deadlines affect closing dates.
If you are deciding between two or three specific houses, our agents can pull the recent sales on each block and the Dallas Central Appraisal District history for each address, so you can see how the asking price compares to what the land alone has been trading for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in Highland Park, Texas?
According to Redfin, the median sale price in Highland Park was $2,998,572 in September 2026, down 0.74% from a year earlier. The median price per square foot was $883. Because only 36 homes sold that month, a few large sales can swing the median noticeably, so it is wise to look at several months of data before drawing conclusions.
Do I have to live in Highland Park to attend Highland Park ISD?
Yes. Students must reside within district boundaries. HPISD requires a deed, closing statement, or lease, plus a water or electric bill at the same address, and every family re-verifies residency each summer. Buyers under contract can temporarily use an executed contract, with the closing statement or deed due the business day after closing.
What is the Highland Park ISD tax rate?
Highland Park ISD adopted a total 2026-2027 tax rate of $0.8128 per $100 of value, made up of $0.6428 for maintenance and operations and $0.1700 for debt service, according to People Newspapers. That is down from $0.8347 the prior year. Town, county, and other rates are added on top of the school district rate.
Is Highland Park part of the City of Dallas?
No. The Town of Highland Park is its own municipality, incorporated in 1913, with its own police, fire, permitting, and tax rate. It covers 2.26 square miles and is surrounded by Dallas and University Park. Buyers should confirm Town building rules separately from City of Dallas rules before planning any renovation or rebuild.
How long do homes take to sell in Highland Park?
Redfin reported a median of 55 days on market in Highland Park in September 2026, 19 days longer than a year earlier. Sale-to-list price averaged 95.5%. That suggests buyers have more room to negotiate than in recent years, though well-located, well-priced homes on the most requested streets still tend to attract quick interest.
When should I file for the homestead exemption after buying?
File once the home is your primary residence. The Texas Comptroller says the general deadline to apply is before May 1. School districts must provide a $140,000 residence homestead exemption, plus an additional $60,000 for homeowners 65 or older or disabled. Applications go to the Dallas Central Appraisal District.
