Living in Garland, Texas
Garland
A rebuilt downtown square, 63 holes of golf and Lake Ray Hubbard.
What it's like
The short version
Garland covers about 57 square miles northeast of Dallas, almost entirely in Dallas County. Interstate 30, Interstate 635 and the President George Bush Turnpike cross the city, and the DART Blue Line stops at Forest/Jupiter and Downtown Garland.
What's for sale
Homes sold at a median near $299,000 in the three months ending September 2026.
What it does well
Strong here
- Parks and trails●●●
63 parks on more than 2,880 acres, with six recreation centers. - Golf●●●
Firewheel Golf Park has 63 holes on three championship courses. - Transit options●●○
The DART Blue Line stops at Downtown Garland Station, which has eight bus routes and 540 free parking spaces. - Vibrant, big-city energy●●○
Two interstates and the DART Blue Line tie the city to Dallas, and Firewheel Town Center has more than 100 businesses. - A real downtown●●○
A downtown square rebuilt for more than $25 million has a play area, an event lawn and an urban water feature. - Restaurants●●○
Lockwood Distilling Co., Fortunate Son, Intrinsic Smokehouse and Taco y Vino all sit downtown. - Shopping●●○
Firewheel Town Center is an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment center with national retailers. - Lake days●●○
22,745-acre Lake Ray Hubbard has lakeside parks with beaches and fishing piers, and a free public boat ramp. - Established neighborhoods●●○
A community formed in 1874, and the city incorporated in 1891.
The honest part
What to know first
- Walk Score rates the city 40, so most errands take a car.
- The combined 2025 rate runs about 2.39 per $100 on a Dallas County address with Garland ISD.
Not its strength: walkable, quiet, small-town pace, nightlife, luxury homes.
Not rated yet: land and acreage, horses welcome, new construction. That means I haven't confirmed it either way, not that it isn't here.
Get outside
- Firewheel Golf Park
600 acres with 63 holes across the Bridges, Lakes and Old courses. - Lake Ray Hubbard
A 22,745-acre lake with lakeside parks, beaches and fishing piers, plus the free Chaha Boat Ramp at John Paul Jones Park. - Spring Creek Forest Preserve
230 acres with over 8 miles of trails. - Rowlett Creek Preserve
Unpaved trails for hiking, biking, running and birdwatching. - Duck Creek Greenbelt
A 5.7-mile concrete trail for walking, running and cycling, plus softball and cricket fields. - Audubon Park
Trails along Duck Creek and an 18-hole disc golf course. - Jon Comer Skatepark
The second-largest skatepark in Texas, at Rick Oden Park, with a food truck park.
Eat and drink
- Lockwood Distilling Co.
A gastropub at 532 Main St. with Southern food, cocktails and spirit flights. - Fortunate Son
New Haven-style pizza in downtown Garland. - Intrinsic Smokehouse
A smokehouse in downtown Garland. - Taco y Vino
A Taco y Vino outpost in downtown Garland.
Shop and errands
- Firewheel Town Center
An outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment center at the President George Bush Tollway and Highway 78, with stores including Old Navy, Buckle and Tradehome Shoes.
Taxes
2025 combined rate per $100, Dallas County address with Garland ISD: city 0.689746, Dallas County 0.215500, Parkland Hospital 0.212000, Dallas College 0.106575, Garland ISD 1.170900, Dallas County School Equalization 0.000000. Homestead not applied.
Garland ISD serves most of the city, with Richardson ISD, Mesquite ISD and Dallas ISD in other parts. On a Dallas County address the total is 2.329021 with Richardson ISD at 1.105200, 2.330721 with Mesquite ISD at 1.106900, and 2.217656 with Dallas ISD at 0.993835. A handful of people live in the Collin and Rockwall County parts, where county units differ, so check the unit list on the address.
School facts
- Garland ISD: TEA rating B, 2026
- Richardson ISD: TEA rating B, 2025-26
- 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 Garland report sent to your email.
Sources
- 2026 NCTCOG Population Estimates
- Redfin: Garland Housing Market
- Dallas County Tax Office: 2025 Tax Rates
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Garland ISD
- Community Impact: Richardson ISD advances to B rating for 2025-26
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Mesquite ISD
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Dallas ISD
- Wikipedia: Garland, Texas
- Visit Garland: Great Outdoors
- Garland Economic Development: Parks and Outdoors
- CultureMap Dallas: Lockwood Distilling gastropub in downtown Garland (Feb 16, 2026)
- FOX 4: City of Garland unveils new downtown square (Oct 14, 2023)
- CultureMap Dallas: Firewheel Town Center (Nov 13, 2025)
- DART: Downtown Garland Station
- Walk Score: Garland