Living in Balch Springs, Texas
Balch Springs
Interstate 635 through the middle, I-20 to the south and new subdivisions underway.
What it's like
The short version
Balch Springs covers about 9 square miles in Dallas County. Interstate 635 splits the city into two nearly equal halves, and Interstate 20 and U.S. 175 run along its southern border.
What's for sale
Homes sold at a median near $271,000 in the three months ending August 2026. Lennar Homes is the main builder at the 180-lot Mackenzie Trails, and Arcadia Trails is a 173-acre master-planned community at Beltline and Mercury.
What it does well
Strong here
- New construction●●○
Mackenzie Trails has 180 lots under construction, and Arcadia Trails spans 173 acres. - Established neighborhoods●●○
First settled in the 1840s and incorporated in 1953.
The honest part
What to know first
- Walk Score rates the city 27, so most errands take a car.
- The combined 2025 rate runs about 2.44 per $100 with Mesquite ISD and about 2.32 with Dallas ISD.
Not its strength: walkable, transit options, quiet, small-town pace, vibrant, big-city energy, restaurants, shopping, parks and trails, lake days, luxury homes.
Not rated yet: a real downtown, nightlife, golf, land and acreage, horses welcome. That means I haven't confirmed it either way, not that it isn't here.
Get outside
- Guy Berry Park
A city park on Sheilah Drive. - Oakridge Park
A city park on Spring Oaks Drive. - Virgil T. Irwin Park
A city park on Shepherd Lane. - Woodland Park
A city park on Horseshoe Trail.
Shop and errands
- Balch Springs Commons
Retail at I-635 and Lake June Road, with Walmart Supercenter, Dollar Tree and Rainbow Apparel.
What's coming
- A $50 million mixed-use project behind City Hall at Beltline Road and I-20, with apartments, four restaurants and retail planned. Grading and site preparation have started.
- A $50 million subdivision of 180 lots under construction.
- A $300 million project on 173 acres moving into its third phase, with homes and 15 acres of retail.
Taxes
2025 combined rate per $100 with Mesquite ISD: city 0.794629, Dallas County 0.215500, Parkland Hospital 0.212000, Dallas College 0.106575, Mesquite ISD 1.106900, Dallas County School Equalization 0.000000. Homestead not applied.
Mesquite ISD serves the northeastern part of the city and Dallas ISD the southwestern part, in roughly equal halves. Dallas ISD at 0.993835 brings the total to 2.322539, so check the unit list on the address.
School facts
- Mesquite ISD: TEA rating B, 2026
- Dallas ISD: TEA rating B, 2025-26
Do your own homework
Take it with you
Want this on paper?
Get the printable Balch Springs report sent to your email.
Sources
- 2026 NCTCOG Population Estimates
- Redfin: Balch Springs Housing Market
- Dallas County Tax Office: 2025 Tax Rates
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Mesquite ISD
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Dallas ISD
- Walk Score: Balch Springs
- Balch Springs Chamber: Play
- The Retail Connection: Balch Springs Commons
- Citizen Portal: Balch Springs Type A board reviews Alexander Village grading (Oct 20, 2025)
- Citizen Portal: City updates on development projects including Arcadia Trails and Mackenzie Trails (Aug 18, 2025)
- Wikipedia: Balch Springs, Texas
- STAR Transit: 101 Balch Springs Midtown Express
- STAR Transit: About