Living in Ovilla, Texas
Ovilla
Ellis County's oldest town, with cotton gin history along Red Oak Creek.
What it's like
The short version
Ovilla covers about 5.8 square miles in northern Ellis County, with a small part in Dallas County. It began in 1844 as a fortified settlement on upper Red Oak Creek, and railroads and major highways passed it by. Heritage Park now sits on the old cotton gin site.
What's for sale
Homes sold at a median near $525,000 in the three months ending September 2026.
What it does well
Strong here
- Quiet, small-town pace●●○
About 4,700 people. - Established neighborhoods●●○
Settled in 1844, and incorporated in 1963.
The honest part
What to know first
- Walk Score rates one Ovilla address, on Judy Drive, a 3, so almost all errands there take a car.
Not its strength: walkable, vibrant, big-city energy, parks and trails, lake days, new construction, luxury homes.
Not rated yet: transit options, a real downtown, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, golf, land and acreage, horses welcome. That means I haven't confirmed it either way, not that it isn't here.
Get outside
- Cindy Jones and Founders Park
The city's largest park, behind City Hall, with baseball and softball fields, two pickleball courts, a soccer area, a large pavilion and a 10-foot concrete trail. - Heritage Park
Former cotton gin site at 625 W. Main St. along Red Oak Creek, with a concrete trail, gazebo, Veterans Memorial and picnic area.
On the calendar
- Heritage Day
A yearly celebration on the last Saturday of September with a parade, more than 90 vendors, live performances and a car show.
Taxes
2025 rates per $100 on an Ellis County address: city 0.616213, Ellis County 0.273992, plus Midlothian ISD 1.100800 where that district applies. Homestead not applied.
Red Oak ISD serves most of the Ellis County part and Midlothian ISD some of it, with Cedar Hill ISD and DeSoto ISD in the Dallas County part. The total is 1.991005 on an Ellis County address with Midlothian ISD. On a Dallas County address it is 2.278188 with Cedar Hill ISD at 1.127900 and 2.375488 with DeSoto ISD at 1.225200. Check the unit list on the address.
School facts
- Red Oak ISD: TEA rating C, 2026
- Midlothian ISD: TEA rating B, 2026
- Cedar Hill ISD: TEA rating C, 2026
- DeSoto ISD: TEA rating C, 2026
Take it with you
Want this on paper?
Get the printable Ovilla report sent to your email.
Sources
- 2026 NCTCOG Population Estimates
- Redfin: Ovilla Housing Market
- Independence Title: Ellis County Tax Rates 2025
- Dallas County Tax Office: 2025 Tax Rates
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Red Oak ISD
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Midlothian ISD
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Cedar Hill ISD
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: DeSoto ISD
- Wikipedia: Ovilla, Texas
- Best Southwest Partnership: City of Ovilla
- City of Ovilla: Cindy Jones and Founders Park
- City of Ovilla: Heritage Park
- City of Ovilla: Heritage Day
- Zoneomics: Ovilla zoning code, permitted uses
- Walk Score: 7001 Judy Dr, Ovilla