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Dallas County · TX

Moving to Irving, Texas

By Mariela Lovo Ol, REALTOR® · Updated

Living in Irving, Texas puts you between Dallas and DFW Airport. At its center is Las Colinas, a business and lakeside district. Irving has about 257,000 residents. It has older neighborhoods to the south and master-planned areas to the north. This guide explains which part of Irving fits your commute and budget.

At a glance

County
Dallas County[3]
Population (2020 Census)
256,684[1]
Population estimate (July 1, 2025)
257,076[1]
Land area
66.98 square miles[1]
Owner-occupied homes (2020–2024)
38.1%[1]
Average commute (2020–2024)
24.1 minutes[1]
School districts
Irving ISD (most of the city), plus parts of Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Coppell and Grapevine-Colleyville ISDs[3]
Rail
DART Orange Line to DFW Airport; TRE at Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing and West Irving[16]
Master-planned areas
Las Colinas (more than 12,000 acres) and Valley Ranch[3]

What is it like to live in Irving?

Irving is a Dallas County city on the west side of Dallas. Part of DFW International Airport sits within it. Many large companies have offices in Las Colinas, which makes it one of the region's major job centers.

The city grew from about 45,000 residents in the early 1960s to more than 250,000 today. That history shows on the map. Central and south Irving have older neighborhoods. The north has planned districts with lakes, canals and office towers.

Owners occupy about 38% of homes, so apartments and rentals are a big part of the housing mix. The average commute is about 24 minutes.

Which parts of Irving should I look at?

Las Colinas is a mixed-use, master-planned community of more than 12,000 acres. Its Urban Center wraps around Lake Carolyn and the Mandalay Canal. It has apartments, offices and the Toyota Music Factory. Its single-family neighborhoods sit farther out, under the Las Colinas Association's design standards.

Valley Ranch, in far north Irving, is another master-planned area. Central Irving (around the Heritage District and the TRE station) and South Irving hold older streets. West Irving sits closest to DFW Airport.

Here is a quick way to narrow the list. To walk to dinner by the water, start in the Urban Center. For a yard and a planned neighborhood, compare the Las Colinas neighborhoods and Valley Ranch. For an older street closer to Dallas, look at central and south Irving.

How do you get around Irving?

State Highway 183 (Airport Freeway) crosses the city center. I-635 runs along the north edge. SH 114 and the President George Bush Turnpike cross near Las Colinas. The turnpike is a toll road, so plan on a TollTag.

Irving is a DART member city. The Orange Line runs through Las Colinas to DFW Airport. The Trinity Railway Express runs between Dallas and Fort Worth. It stops at Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing and West Irving.

DFW International Airport is minutes away. It serves more than 86 million customers a year. Dallas Love Field is a short drive east.

How do schools work in Irving?

Irving ISD serves most of the city with neighborhood schools by attendance zone. It also has six Schools of Choice that students apply to. Some parts of Irving are in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Coppell ISD or Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.

Charter and private schools also operate here. Check official ratings at TXschools.gov, and verify school assignment for any address directly with the district.

What is there to do in Irving?

Las Colinas has the Toyota Music Factory entertainment complex and the Irving Convention Center. You can take gondola rides on the Mandalay Canal and see the bronze Mustangs of Las Colinas sculpture. Lake Carolyn has walking paths and new restaurants along Water Street.

The city-owned Irving Arts Center hosts resident arts groups. It offers free guided gallery tours each month. The Irving Archives and Museum opened in 2020.

What costs should I plan for in Irving?

Property taxes depend on the taxing units at each address. These include the city, Dallas County and your school district. File your homestead exemption with DCAD once you own and live in the home.

In Las Colinas, budget for the Las Colinas Association's annual assessment, and ask whether a separate neighborhood HOA also charges dues. Near the airport, visit at several times of day to hear the flight paths.

What should I do next if Irving is on my list?

Browse homes for sale in Irving. Compare them with nearby options in the Dallas relocation guide and the Carrollton relocation guide.

Then check your home value, estimate your payment with the mortgage calculator and schedule a call with Mariela.

Parts of town to know: Irving

  • Las Colinas Urban Center and Lake CarolynApartments, condos and offices around Lake Carolyn and the Mandalay Canal. It is near DART and the Toyota Music Factory.
  • Las Colinas residential neighborhoodsHouses in a master-planned community with design rules and an owners association.
  • Valley RanchA master-planned area in far north Irving with single-family streets and apartment communities.
  • Heritage District and central IrvingIrving's historic core, with established streets and a TRE station for trips to Dallas or Fort Worth.
  • South IrvingEstablished neighborhoods south of Airport Freeway, with quick access toward Dallas and Grand Prairie.
  • West Irving near DFW AirportNeighborhoods closest to DFW Airport, with the West Irving TRE station nearby.

School assignment can change and differs by address. Verify with the school district, and see official ratings at TXschools.gov (TEA). Irving Independent School District, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, Coppell Independent School District, Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.

Homes for sale now — Irving

Search all homes in Irving

Common questions

If I work in Las Colinas, should I live in Las Colinas or Uptown Dallas?

Living in Las Colinas keeps your commute short. It puts Lake Carolyn, the canals and the Toyota Music Factory nearby. Uptown is denser and more urban. But it adds a drive or DART Orange Line trip each way. Test the commute at rush hour before you sign a lease or contract.

Should I look at Las Colinas or Valley Ranch in Irving?

Both are master-planned areas in north Irving. Las Colinas has the Urban Center, Lake Carolyn and the Las Colinas Association assessment. Valley Ranch is a separate master-planned area in far north Irving. Compare HOA costs, school district lines and your commute for each address.

Is Las Colinas walkable around Lake Carolyn and the canals?

The Urban Center around Lake Carolyn and the Mandalay Canal is the most walkable part of Irving, with paths, restaurants and DART stations. Most of the rest of Irving is car-dependent. Check specific addresses on Walk Score.

Where should I live if I commute to DFW Airport?

West Irving and Las Colinas are both close to DFW Airport. The DART Orange Line runs from Las Colinas to Terminal A. The TRE connects West Irving to CentrePort/DFW Airport Station. From there, a free shuttle runs to Terminal B. Check aircraft noise before you buy.

How do schools work in Irving?

Irving ISD serves most of the city by attendance zone and runs six Schools of Choice by application. Some parts of Irving are in Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Coppell or Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Check ratings at TXschools.gov and verify school assignment for any address directly with the district.

What is the Las Colinas Association assessment?

Property owners in Las Colinas belong to the Las Colinas Association. It bills an annual assessment. The association sets design and upkeep standards and offers alarm monitoring and patrol services to members. Ask for the current amount and documents during your option period.

How are property taxes calculated in Irving?

Your bill adds the rates of the City of Irving, Dallas County, your school district and other taxing units for that address. DCAD sets the appraised value. The homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of your main home. Look up the account on DCAD before you make an offer.

Sources

  1. QuickFacts: Dallas, Irving, Farmers Branch, Carrollton and Lewisville cities, Texas, U.S. Census Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
  2. 2024 Gazetteer Files: Places, Texas, U.S. Census Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
  3. Irving, Texas, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  4. Las Colinas Association, Las Colinas Association (read 2026-09-24)
  5. Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau, Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
  6. City of Irving official website, City of Irving (read 2026-09-24)
  7. Irving Arts Center, City of Irving (read 2026-09-24)
  8. Irving ISD Schools of Choice, Irving Independent School District (read 2026-09-24)
  9. Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (read 2026-09-24)
  10. Coppell ISD, Coppell Independent School District (read 2026-09-24)
  11. Texas School Report Cards (TXschools.gov), Texas Education Agency (read 2026-09-24)
  12. Walk Score, Walk Score (read 2026-09-24)
  13. About DART, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (read 2026-09-24)
  14. DART Rail, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (read 2026-09-24)
  15. DART to Airports, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (read 2026-09-24)
  16. TRE Stations, Trinity Railway Express (read 2026-09-24)
  17. Airport Facts & Figures, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (read 2026-09-24)
  18. North Texas Tollway Authority, North Texas Tollway Authority (read 2026-09-24)
  19. Property Tax Exemptions, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  20. Property Tax Protests and Appeals, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  21. Special Purpose Districts, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  22. Notice to Purchaser of Special Taxing or Assessment District (TREC 59-0), Texas Real Estate Commission (read 2026-09-24)
  23. Dallas Central Appraisal District, Dallas Central Appraisal District (read 2026-09-24)
  24. Homestead Exemption Application Filing, Dallas Central Appraisal District (read 2026-09-24)
  25. Tax Office, Dallas County (read 2026-09-24)
  26. About Oncor, Oncor Electric Delivery (read 2026-09-24)
  27. Power to Choose, Public Utility Commission of Texas (read 2026-09-24)
  28. Moving to Texas, Texas Department of Public Safety (read 2026-09-24)
  29. New to Texas, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (read 2026-09-24)
  30. Register to Vote, Texas Secretary of State (VoteTexas.gov) (read 2026-09-24)
  31. National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas, NOAA National Weather Service (read 2026-09-24)
  32. Tornado Safety: During, NOAA National Weather Service (read 2026-09-24)
  33. Dallas, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  34. Hospital locations, Baylor Scott & White Health (read 2026-09-24)
  35. Medical City Las Colinas, Medical City Healthcare (read 2026-09-24)
  36. Parkland Health, Parkland Health (read 2026-09-24)

Last reviewed: 2026-09-24. Descriptions cover places and amenities, not the people who live there. We are committed to the Fair Housing Act.

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