# Living in Little Elm, TX: Realust Score 79

> Source: Realust (realust.com), data as of October 2026. Cite: https://realust.com/city/little-elm/

URL: https://realust.com/city/little-elm/
County: Denton
Realust Score: 79/100 (B+, Very Good), tied for #37 of 84. Base 79 + price-tier bonus 0.
Category scores: Prosperity 78, Schools 78, Safety 84, Lifestyle 83, Market 75, Affordability 87, Commute 56, Growth 78
Median home price: $394K
Population: 54,820
Market momentum: Growing (home prices -5.7% over 1 year, +4.8% over 5 years)

Little Elm centers life around Lewisville Lake and waterfront parks, which drive a strong outdoor/recreational culture—trails, marinas, beaches, and community events are common drawcards. Housing skews toward newer single-family developments, townhomes, and some gated communities; prices are often more affordable than nearby Frisco or Plano but have risen quickly with regional growth. Daily errands are increasingly local as retail corridors expand, though higher-order medical and specialty services sometimes require trips to neighboring cities. Commuting to major job centers uses US-380, SH-121/121A, and I-35E with variable drive times—northbound commutes to Denton are short, while drives toward Plano/Dallas can be longer during peak hours. Expect good municipal parks and schools that are improving but check exact school zoning, planned developments, floodplain/fema map status for lake-adjacent lots, and HOA rules when evaluating properties, since neighborhood character can change rapidly as infill and new subdivisions continue.

Strengths:
- Parks, trails, beaches, and lake activities are major lifestyle draws.
- New commercial centers, shops, and services are expanding as the community grows.
- Easy commuting access to Frisco, Plano, Dallas, and beyond via key highways.

Trade-offs:
- Rapid growth has brought increased traffic and ongoing construction on major corridors.
- While many schools are highly regarded, some parts of Little Elm ISD receive varied ratings, and zoning changes matter a lot to families.
- Growth and demand have increased home prices, though still generally lower than nearest premium suburbs.

Data:
- Demographics / Population: Total Population 54,820; People per sq mile 2,958; 5-Year Growth +19.3%
- Demographics / Mobility & Migration: Moved Last Year 13.6%; Same Home 1+ Year 86.4%; From Out of State 2.1%; From Different County 6.0%
- Demographics / Age Distribution: Under 18 28.0%; 25-34 13.8%; 35-44 17.6%; 65+ 7.5%; Median Age 35.4 years
- Demographics / Households: Avg Household Size 2.9; Family Households 78.1%; Homeownership Rate 70.1%; With Kids 50.1%; Married 58.3%; Single Parent 12.0%; Living Alone 17.3%; Seniors Alone 4.6%
- Demographics / Education Level: High School+ 93.7%; Bachelor's+ 44.2%; Graduate Degree 16.3%
- Demographics / Connectivity & Remote Work: Broadband Access 98.3%; Have Computer 99.8%; Work From Home 24.7%
- Real Estate / Home Prices: Per Sq Ft $186; Starter Home $439,915; Median Price $393,657; Premium Home $679,723
- Real Estate / Home Price Trends: 1-Year Change -5.7%; 5-Year Change +4.8%
- Real Estate / Rent Trends: 1-Year Change -0.3%; 5-Year Change +23.3%
- Real Estate / Market Health: Active Listings 349; Median Days on Market 74; Under Contract 29.1%; Price Reduced 14.5%; Sale-to-List Ratio 97.1%
- Real Estate / Market Insights: Cheaper to Rent $149/mo; Seller's market 2.4 mo; Rental Yield 6.2%; Income to Buy 3.3x; vs Region Avg -17%
- Real Estate / Fit Scores: Remote Work Fit 93; Family Fit 65; Investment 100
- Real Estate / Typical Home: Sq Ft 2,732; Beds 4; Baths 3.2; Lot Sq Ft 6,681; Year Built 2019; Garage 2.1-car
- Real Estate / Property Mix: Single Family 98%; Townhome 0%; Condo 0%
- Real Estate / Common Features: Pool 1.5%; Garage 99.5%; Single Story 33.5%; Fireplace 22%; Central Air 17%; Waterfront 4.5%
- Real Estate / Costs & Ownership: Est. Monthly Payment $2,180; Median Rent $2,031; Avg HOA Fee $63/mo; Have HOA 19.5%
- Real Estate / Investment Indicators: Rental Vacancy 0.8%; New Construction 81%; Per Bedroom $124,838
- Lifestyle / Lifestyle Scores: Area Feel Rural; Family Friendly 7.3; Outdoor Activities 4.7; Nightlife 6; Health & Fitness 6.7; Diversity 8; Weather 6.7
- Lifestyle / Nearby Amenities (within 5 miles): Restaurants 60+; Parks 60+; Gyms 20; Grocery 8; Coffee 57; Bars 28; Theaters 2; Daycares 60+; Hospitals 10; Pharmacies 30; Dentists 60+; Libraries 12; Dog Parks 60+
- Lifestyle / Getting Around: Walk Score 18; Bike Score 30
- Lifestyle / Seasonal Temperatures (high / low): January 56° / 38°; April 74° / 55°; July 94° / 78°; October 77° / 59°
- Lifestyle / Annual Conditions: Sunny Days/Year 226; Rainy Days/Year 139; Annual Rainfall 51.6"
- Crime & Safety / Safety Overview: Safety Grade B; Violent crime (per 1,000) 1.66; Property crime (per 1,000) 4.05
- Crime & Safety / Violent Crime (per 100,000): Assault 73.21; Robbery 20.69; Murder 5.47; Rape 36.6
- Crime & Safety / Property Crime (per 100,000): Burglary 42.97; Theft 319.88; Vehicle Theft 60.47
- Job Market / Income: Median Household $119,219; Average Household $138,057; Per Capita $48,310
- Job Market / Employment: Unemployment Rate 6.6%; Job Growth (1 yr) +3.0%; Poverty Rate 9.0%
- Job Market / Income Distribution: $150k+ 34.4%; $100k-$150k 23.4%; $75k-$100k 16.2%; $50k-$75k 12.3%; $25k-$50k 7.8%; Under $25k 5.9%
- Education / School District: Primary district Little Elm ISD; District Grade B+; State Ranking Top 48%
- Education / Schools: Elementary 6; Middle 2; High School 1
- Education / Elementary Schools: Prestwick Elementary A (91); Zellars Early Childhood Learning Center C (79)
- Education / Middle Schools: Jerry R Walker Middle C (74); Oak Point Elementary C (73)
- Education / High Schools: Little Elm High School B (85); Lowell H Strike Middle B (80)
- Education / Academic Info: Student-Teacher Ratio 15:1
- Education / Graduation Rates (Class of 2024): Graduation Rate 94.7%; Dropout Rate 4.3%
- Education / College Readiness (Class of 2023): Took SAT/ACT 97%; College Ready 12.1%; TSI Ready 21.7%
- Transportation / Mobility Scores: Walk Score 18; Bike Score 30
- Transportation / Commute: Avg Minutes 35; Drive Alone 66.7%; Carpool 7.4%; Work from Home 24.7%
- Transportation / Distance To: Downtown Dallas 32.4 mi; DFW Airport 22.7 mi; Love Field 29.1 mi
- Transportation / EV Charging: Public Stations 9; DC Fast Ports 0; Level 2 Ports 24
- Cost of Living / Cost Index (100 = National Average): Overall 101; Housing 113; Utilities 97; Groceries 100; Transportation 102; Healthcare 100
- Cost of Living / Monthly Utilities: Electric $142; Water $52; Gas $44; Internet $72
- Cost of Living / Everyday Costs: Monthly Groceries (Family of 4) $823; Gas Price (per gallon) $2.82
- Cost of Living / Taxes: Sales Tax Rate 8.3%; Property Tax Rate 2.2%

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