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Irving, Texas sits at the geographic center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex — 15 minutes from downtown Dallas, 20 minutes from downtown Fort Worth, and with part of DFW International Airport inside its city limits. It is one of the only American cities that contains a major international airport within its boundaries. Irving is served by three public school districts, and which district applies to a specific home is determined by address, not by city name. That distinction is the most consequential fact for any buyer evaluating Irving or Valley Ranch real estate.

 

 

Irving’s three school districts — the fact that determines your home’s value

 

Irving is served by three separate public school districts. Most buyers assume “Irving” means “Irving ISD.” That assumption is wrong for a significant portion of the city’s most desirable addresses.

 

Irving Independent School District (Irving ISD) — serves the majority of Irving. See: Irving ISD schools guide.

 

Coppell ISD — serves parts of northern Irving and Valley Ranch. Coppell ISD is one of the highest-rated school districts in Texas and one of the most coveted addresses in the DFW metro. A home in Valley Ranch may be Coppell ISD or Irving ISD depending on its specific location within the community. Coppell ISD-zoned homes in Valley Ranch carry a meaningful price premium over Irving ISD-zoned homes on adjacent streets. See: Coppell ISD schools guide · Coppell real estate guide.

 

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD (CFBISD) — serves some northern Irving addresses near the Carrollton boundary.

 

The district for any specific Irving or Valley Ranch home must be verified by address before making an offer. Two homes on the same street can feed different districts. See the full ISD breakdown: Irving buyer’s agent guide.

 

 

Valley Ranch, Irving TX

 

Valley Ranch is a 2,400-acre master-planned community in northern Irving, north of I-635. It features a distinctive canal system, landscaped walkways, residential neighborhoods, and over 120 local businesses in an environment of parks, ponds, and pedestrian pathways along the water. The name comes from its origins as a working cattle ranch situated in a valley below a large ridge, adjacent to the Trinity River floodplain.

 

The community includes approximately 4,000 single-family homes, 22 multi-family properties, and an extensive levee system on the eastern side that separates the Trinity River from developed land — making the floodplain viable for residential use. Valley Ranch is governed by a unique three-board structure (residential, commercial, and master boards) with an active homeowner’s association.

 

Valley Ranch is minutes from DFW Airport and accessible via I-635, SH-114, and SH-161. It formerly hosted the practice facilities of the Dallas Cowboys (who moved to Frisco in 2016) and the Dallas Stars (also relocated to Frisco). Today it offers five-plus miles of winding canal walkways, parks, and an aquatic center.

 

⚠ School district alert: Valley Ranch is split between Coppell ISD and Irving ISD. The district for any Valley Ranch home depends on the specific address. Verify before selecting any homesite. See: Irving buyer’s agent guide.

 

 

Las Colinas, Irving TX

 

Las Colinas is a 12,000-acre master-planned development within Irving, founded in 1972 by Ben Carpenter on land formerly known as El Ranchito de Las Colinas (“the little ranch of the hills”). It is one of the first and largest master-planned urban developments in the United States and today ranks among the most significant corporate addresses in the country.

 

Las Colinas hosts more than 2,000 corporations and 400+ corporate headquarters, including global headquarters of multiple Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies. The 125-acre man-made Lake Carolyn anchors the urban center, flanked by the Mandalay Canal system — a Venetian-style network of waterways running through offices, shops, restaurants, and residential areas. The Mustangs of Las Colinas sculpture is one of the most recognized public art installations in Texas.

 

Las Colinas is directly connected to downtown Dallas and DFW Airport via the DART Orange Line, making it one of the most transit-connected addresses in the DFW metro. Additional features: 56 small lakes and water amenities, jogging trails, the Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas, the Irving Arts Center, and the Toyota Music Factory entertainment complex.

 

Notable Las Colinas addresses include the Riverside Village community, The Lakes of Las Colinas, and the Mandalay Canal-adjacent residential neighborhoods in the $400K–$1M+ range.

 

 

Irving TX location and commute

 

Irving’s geographic position in the DFW Metroplex is its most underappreciated asset. From most Irving addresses: downtown Dallas is approximately 15 minutes; North Dallas and Plano are approximately 20 minutes; downtown Fort Worth is approximately 20 minutes; DFW Airport is approximately 10 minutes.

 

Part of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport lies inside Irving city limits — one of the few cities in the United States to contain a major international airport within its boundaries. The Orange Line DART light rail provides non-driving access from Las Colinas to downtown Dallas and DFW Airport.

 

Major freeways through Irving: Interstate 635 (LBJ Freeway), State Highway 114, State Highway 183 (Airport Freeway), President George Bush Turnpike (SH 161).

 

 

Irving home prices and market (August 2026)

 

Irving home prices range from the mid-$200,000s for condos and townhomes in the Las Colinas urban core to over $1 million for luxury homes in gated communities such as Hackberry Creek, Grand Estates at Northlake Hills, and Cottonwood Valley. Median pricing is approximately $399,000 with roughly 1,127 residential transactions per year across the Irving market.

 

Coppell ISD-zoned homes in Valley Ranch consistently trade at a premium to comparably sized Irving ISD-zoned homes in adjacent areas. That ISD premium is visible in closed sales data and should be factored into both buyer budgets and seller pricing strategy.

 

See the current market analysis: Irving TX housing market report — August 2026.

 

 

Popular Irving neighborhoods and subdivisions

 

• Grand Estates at Northlake Hills — luxury gated community

• Cottonwood Valley — established golf-adjacent custom homes

• Hackberry Creek — gated community, consistently Irving’s top luxury address

• University Hills — established neighborhood near University of Dallas

• Valley Ranch — master-planned, canal system, ISD split (verify by address)

• The Enclave — established community, mid-city Irving

• Windsor Ridge — established neighborhood, strong valley views

• La Villita — established community near Las Colinas

• Fairway Vista — golf-adjacent community

• The Lakes of Las Colinas — waterfront residential in the Las Colinas core

• Riverside Village (Las Colinas) — newer townhomes and single-family near Lake Carolyn

 

 

Irving real estate FAQ

 

What school district serves Valley Ranch in Irving TX?

 

Short answer

Parts of Valley Ranch are Coppell ISD; parts are Irving ISD. The district depends on the specific address, not the neighborhood name or zip code. Coppell ISD is one of the highest-rated districts in Texas. Homes in the Coppell ISD zone of Valley Ranch command a measurable price premium. Verify by specific address before making any offer. See: Irving buyer’s agent guide.

 

 

What are the three school districts that serve Irving TX?

 

Short answer

Irving ISD (most of the city), Coppell ISD (parts of Valley Ranch and northern Irving), and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD (CFBISD, some northern Irving addresses). The district is determined by the specific address. Two adjacent homes in the same neighborhood can be in different districts. This is the most consequential due diligence step for any Irving buyer.

 

 

What is the difference between Valley Ranch and Las Colinas in Irving?

 

Short answer

Valley Ranch is a 2,400-acre residential master plan north of I-635 with a canal system, roughly 4,000 single-family homes, and a residential-community character. Las Colinas is a 12,000-acre urban development with 2,000+ corporations, 400+ corporate headquarters, Lake Carolyn, the Mandalay Canals, and Fortune 500 company HQs. Both are inside Irving city limits. Valley Ranch = residential; Las Colinas = live-work-play corporate and residential.

 

 

Is DFW Airport inside Irving TX?

 

Short answer

Part of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport lies within Irving city limits — making Irving one of the few American cities to contain a major international airport within its boundaries. Most Irving neighborhoods are within 10 minutes of the terminal. The DART Orange Line also connects Las Colinas directly to DFW Airport and downtown Dallas without a car.

 

 

What is the price range for Irving TX homes in 2026?

 

Short answer

Mid-$200,000s (condos and townhomes in Las Colinas) to $1M+ (luxury gated communities in Hackberry Creek, Grand Estates at Northlake Hills, and Cottonwood Valley). Median is approximately $399,000. Coppell ISD-zoned Valley Ranch homes trade at a premium to Irving ISD-zoned homes on adjacent streets. See the August 2026 Irving market report.

 

 

How does Irving connect to downtown Dallas without driving?

 

Short answer

The DART Orange Line light rail provides direct service from the Las Colinas Urban Center station to downtown Dallas and DFW Airport. Several major freeways also converge in Irving: I-635, SH-114, SH-183, and SH-161 (President George Bush Turnpike). Downtown Dallas is approximately 15 minutes by car; DFW Airport is approximately 10 minutes from most Irving neighborhoods.

 

 

Irving community resources

 

City of Irving · Irving ISD schools guide · Coppell ISD schools guide · Valley Ranch HOA · Hackberry Creek HOA

 

 

Related: Irving buyer’s agent guide · Coppell real estate · Dallas relocation specialist · buyer services · seller services · MUD vs PID in Texas