North Fort Worth, TX
North Fort Worth is where many relocating buyers land once they see what their budget buys: newer homes, neighborhood pools and trails, and Keller ISD schools, at prices well below Keller or Southlake next door. I grew up in Fort Worth, I live just down the road in North Richland Hills, and I've done pricing work on homes in 76244. Here's what to know before you make the move.
Where North Fort Worth Is
When buyers say North Fort Worth, they usually mean the part of the city east of I-35W and north of Loop 820, centered on zip code 76244. Keller sits to the east, Watauga and North Richland Hills to the southeast, and the Alliance corridor to the north and west. Typical drive times outside rush hour:
- About 20-30 minutes to downtown Fort Worth on I-35W, which has tolled express lanes for heavy-traffic days
- About 25-35 minutes to DFW International Airport
- About 10-20 minutes to the Alliance employment corridor
- About 45-60 minutes to downtown Dallas
Newer Homes, Lower Prices
The #1 reason buyers choose North Fort Worth is a newer home in a neighborhood with pools and trails, for well under what the suburbs next door cost.
Keller ISD Addresses
Most of 76244 is zoned to Keller ISD even though the mailing address says Fort Worth.
Schools
Most of ZIP code 76244 is served by Keller ISD, while portions of the northern/northwestern area extend into Northwest ISD. School district and campus assignments vary by address and should be verified with the applicable district. Timber Creek, Central, and Fossil Ridge are the primary Keller ISD high schools serving North Fort Worth neighborhoods, depending on the specific address.
A few things to know:
- Confirm school zoning by address. Attendance lines run through the middle of neighborhoods here, and a Fort Worth mailing address tells you nothing about the district.
- Ask which elementary and middle schools feed the high school you want. Feeder patterns can differ from one street to the next.
- Check current campus ratings at txschools.gov, the state's accountability site, before you rely on a listing description.
What to Expect Cost-Wise
- Median sale prices in 76244 have generally run around $392,000, compared with about $335,000 for Fort Worth as a whole.
- Most homes sell between the low $300,000s and the mid $500,000s, depending on size, age, and neighborhood.
- Median rent runs about $1,900 a month across apartments and houses. Single-family homes typically lease for more.
- HOA dues are standard. The larger neighborhoods pay for their pools, parks, and trails through a mandatory HOA, so compare what each one includes.
- Property taxes typically fall between 2.0% and 2.5% of assessed value, depending on the exact address.
- No state income tax, which matters if you're coming from a high-income-tax state.
Getting a Feel for the Area Before You Arrive
North Fort Worth is a set of large master-planned neighborhoods, most of them built from the late 1990s through the 2010s:
- Heritage. One of the largest master-planned communities in the area, with community pools, parks, and trails, and schools inside the neighborhood.
- Villages of Woodland Springs. Six community pools, stocked fishing ponds, and miles of walking trails, with most homes built in the 2000s.
- Crawford Farms, Arcadia Park, and Vista Meadows. Smaller neighborhoods of similar age, each with its own HOA and amenities.
- Shopping and dining. Alliance Town Center sits at I-35W and Heritage Trace Parkway. Old Town Keller is a short drive east.
The trade-off is driving. Almost nothing here is walkable, and I-35W and the main east-west roads back up at rush hour.
Practical Relocation Steps
- Pick the school district first. Decide between Keller ISD and Northwest ISD, then search by attendance zone instead of by zip code.
- Drive your commute at rush hour. Try I-35W southbound in the morning before you commit to a neighborhood.
- Compare HOA dues and what they cover. Two similar homes can carry very different monthly dues.
- Budget for taxes and insurance together. Ask about roof age and past hail claims when you get an insurance quote.
- Get pre-approved early, especially if your move is tied to a job start date.
- Tour more than one neighborhood. Homes here range from late-1990s builds to nearly new.
Who North Fort Worth Fits
- Buyers who want a newer home with neighborhood amenities for under about $450,000
- Buyers who want Keller ISD zoning without Keller prices
- Anyone commuting to Alliance, DFW Airport, or downtown Fort Worth
- Buyers who don't mind driving to everything
Bottom Line
North Fort Worth gives you more house, newer construction, and Keller ISD zoning for less than the suburbs around it. You pay for that with traffic and a car-dependent layout. If that trade works for you, it's one of the best values on the north side of Tarrant County.
Relocating to North Fort Worth or anywhere in the greater DFW area? I help out-of-state and out-of-market buyers from wherever they're starting, including remote showings, school zone research, and introductions to local lenders, inspectors, and movers. Reach out anytime, no pressure.
Brent Reiter
Brent Sells DFW
brentsellsdfw.com
Local Resources & Citations
Frequently Asked Questions About North Fort Worth
Is North Fort Worth in Keller ISD?
Most of 76244 is. The north end of the zip code is zoned to Northwest ISD, so confirm by address.
How much do homes cost in North Fort Worth?
Median sale prices in 76244 have generally run around $392,000. Most homes sell between the low $300,000s and the mid $500,000s.
How far is North Fort Worth from downtown?
About 20 to 30 minutes on I-35W outside rush hour. Plan for longer in the morning and evening.
Is there new construction in North Fort Worth?
76244 is mostly built out. New construction continues to the north and west, toward Alliance and Haslet. See my Alliance and Wildflower Ranch guides.