Texas Relocation Specialist & Dallas-Fort Worth Luxury Real Estate Agent
“Not just your REALTOR® but your trusted advisor”
Highland Park & University Park Real Estate: The Park Cities
Updated September 2026 | By Nitin Gupta, CRS, GRI | Broker Associate, Competitive Edge Realty | 480+ Transactions | $250M+ Career Volume
"The Park Cities" refers to two separate incorporated towns -- Highland Park and University Park -- surrounded by the City of Dallas. Highland Park has roughly 8,900 residents; University Park roughly 23,500. Both are served primarily by Highland Park ISD, a district separate from Dallas ISD, but the district boundary does not match either town's boundary exactly. That distinction, and how to verify it for a specific address, is the most useful thing to understand before touring homes here.
Highland Park and University Park are two different towns
Each town has its own city government, its own permitting process, and its own police and fire departments. Addresses in the area can read as Highland Park, University Park, or Dallas depending on the exact location, which is a common source of confusion for buyers relocating from out of state. Confirming which municipality an address actually sits in -- not just which one the listing implies -- is a normal part of a Park Cities home search.
Shopping and dining in the Park Cities
Highland Park Village, an open-air shopping center on the Highland Park side, houses a mix of boutiques and national retailers alongside restaurants and cafes. Snider Plaza, a roughly three-block retail strip in University Park near Southern Methodist University, offers a similar mix of specialty stores and restaurants at a smaller, more neighborhood scale. Both are within walking distance of a meaningful share of homes in their respective towns, which is worth factoring into how car-dependent or walkable a specific address feels day to day.
The school district boundary has a real exception
Highland Park ISD serves most of both towns, but not all of Highland Park. A portion of the town west of Roland Avenue is zoned to Dallas ISD instead. This is exactly the kind of address-specific detail that matters more than the city name on a listing: two homes a few blocks apart, both with a Highland Park address, can sit in two different school districts. Verify the district assignment for the specific address in writing before writing an offer, rather than assuming it from the town name.
For families weighing Highland Park ISD against Dallas ISD's magnet programs or against private school, see DISD magnets vs. Highland Park ISD vs. private school, which covers how access works for each path.
What the housing stock looks like
Both towns are compact and largely built out, so most of the market is resale rather than new construction, and lot sizes stay comparatively small and consistent across most of both towns -- a handful of areas, such as parts of Volk Estates in University Park, run larger, but they're the exception rather than the norm. A meaningful share of homes on the market have been renovated or rebuilt on their existing lot rather than left in original condition, so a property's improvement and permit history is worth understanding before an offer, not after closing.
The two towns also handle renovation and new construction differently: Highland Park's Zoning Commission reviews new construction and major renovations, while University Park does not have a formal architectural review board. That difference affects timeline and process for anyone planning to build or substantially renovate after buying.
How the Park Cities compare to nearby Dallas neighborhoods
Preston Hollow is not part of the Park Cities -- it's a separate Dallas neighborhood, zoned to Dallas ISD rather than Highland Park ISD, and it's a common alternative for buyers who want a similar part of town without the smaller lots that come with Highland Park and University Park's built-out footprint. For a fuller comparison across lot size, property tax rate, architectural review, and walkability, see Highland Park vs. University Park vs. Preston Hollow.
What a buyer's agent handles in a Park Cities purchase
Verifying which town and which school district a specific address actually falls in, rather than assuming it from the listing. Reviewing a home's renovation and permit history, which matters more here than in a typical new-construction suburb given how much of the stock has been rebuilt or updated. Coordinating with each town's own permitting and, where relevant, architectural review process. And putting a written buyer representation agreement in place before touring, which Texas has required since January 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Are Highland Park and University Park the same city?
No. They are two separate incorporated towns, each with its own government, though both sit inside the area commonly called the Park Cities and both are served primarily by Highland Park ISD.
Does every Highland Park address attend Highland Park ISD schools?
No. A portion of Highland Park west of Roland Avenue is zoned to Dallas ISD instead. Verify the specific address before assuming district assignment.
Is Preston Hollow part of the Park Cities?
No. Preston Hollow is a separate Dallas neighborhood zoned to Dallas ISD, not one of the two Park Cities towns.
Do Highland Park and University Park have the same rules for renovating or rebuilding a home?
No. Highland Park's Zoning Commission reviews new construction and major renovations; University Park does not have a formal architectural review board.
What private school options are near the Park Cities?
Several well-known private schools sit within a few miles of the Park Cities. See DISD magnets vs. Highland Park ISD vs. private school for how admission works at each and how that compares to the public options.
More on Nitin's background: full designations. Buyer representation generally: buyer services. For the process of buying above the entry-level market generally, see how to choose a real estate agent for a luxury home purchase in DFW and how private a Texas home purchase can actually be. Home tours and buyer education: Nitin Gupta's YouTube channel.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Nitin Gupta does not rate, rank, or characterize schools, neighborhoods, or communities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability, and provides real estate services to all clients regardless of these characteristics. School district boundaries and municipal rules change; verify current information directly with Highland Park ISD, the Town of Highland Park, or the City of University Park before making a decision.
