Starting a family is one of life’s amazing moments. However, once you make the choice to have children, the planning has only begun. One of the most important decisions new families make is where they are going to live; after all, the environment your children grow up in has a major impact on how they will develop from infancy all the way to adulthood. There are several factors to consider before choosing your new home, such as: the school system, the culture, the lifestyle, employment opportunities, the housing market and even the weather.
Over the last several years, Fort Worth, also known as Cowtown, and its surrounding suburbs have emerged as one of the best places to raise a family. In fact, SmartAsset has declared Fort Worth to be in the Top 10 Best Cities to Raise a Family. In fact, this popular city checked in at number 3 nationally; making it The Lone Star state’s number one city to raise a family.
As a team of young professionals, the Chicotsky Real Estate Group is dedicated to helping young families find the perfect Fort Worth home, where they can raise their children in a safe, nurturing environment. Here are a few of the reasons why Fort Worth is a great place to raise a family.
Great Educational Opportunities
Of all the factors families consider when they are looking for a city to call home is: how good are the schools? Luckily, Fort Worth has plenty of great schools throughout the area. One of the unique aspects of Fort Worth and the surrounding communities is most of the sister cities have their own independent school districts.
Notable Fort Worth-area school districts with high ratings include the Carroll Independent School District, the Allen Independent School District, and the Aledo Independent School District. Each of these districts are within a 45 minute drive of Downtown Fort Worth, and ideal for families who want their kids to have the best possible education. A big plus: Fort Worth has an incredible 89% high school graduation rate.
The Carroll Independent School District is consistently ranked the number one school district in the Fort Worth Area. Carroll Independent School District is located in the Fort Worth areas of Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville and Westlake. This district operates 11 schools, from elementary to high school, and is attended by over 8,000 students. Their impressive student achievement index is a whopping 97.4, which is the highest of any district in the Fort Worth area.
The Allen Independent School District is scattered throughout the neighboring cities of Allen, McKinney, Plano and Parker. This district ranks on the top of the list with a remarkable graduation rate of 98.5%. Thirty percent of the student body scores as “advanced” and their SAT and STAAR standardized testing are higher than the surrounding, more affluent Fort Worth area school districts.
Students located in parts of Aledo, Annetta, Cresson, Fort Worth and Willow Parks attend Aledo Independent School District which operates eight schools: five elementary schools, one middle school and two high schools. This first-rate district has a student achievement rate of 91.1.
Private schooling is always an option for families searching for the educational institution that will best help mold their children. Fort Worth Academy is a K-8 private academy that allows a maximum of only 15 students per classroom. This ratio of students-to-teachers is among the smallest in all Fort Worth private schools. At Fort Worth Academy students are taught a rigorous, advanced curriculum that includes physics, entrepreneurship and innovation courses. Both public and private elementary and high schools are scattered throughout the Fort Worth Area. When it comes to education the options are colossal.
Fort Worth is not just a great place for grade school, either. Some of the nations best community colleges and universities can be found here as well. Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan, and Tarrant County Community College are all fantastic options for post-high school education. Fort Worth has a world-class school system that ranges from kindergarten to graduate school.
Young Population
Millennials have been flocking to the Fort Worth area for several years for a variety of reasons. Along with the great schools in the area, Millennials also love Fort Worth’s booming job market, awesome transportation system, and vibrant city life. With more young adults living here, the more likely they are to stay. Additionally, communities with young families will want to live near and around other young families.
Growth begets growth, which is another reason why Fort Worth is, and will continue to be, a great place to raise a family.
Entertainment
Fort Worth is unique when it comes to city life. This diverse city offers both the big-city and quiet suburban life. Pretty much any night of the week you can find live music -- from the Scat Jazz Lounge, which has been called “the most poppin’ place in Fort Worth,” to The Longhorn Saloon where patrons can not only listen to live music but can also order a pizza shaped like the Lone Star State.
No state compares to Texas when it comes to football; from pee-wee to the NFL this state lives and breathes pigskin. Living in Fort Worth provides the opportunity to live that small-town Friday night football game and backyard barbeque lifestyle; while Cowboy fans are just a short commute away from AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Fort Worth is home to many young families and there is never a shortage of places to enjoy. The Fort Worth Zoo is the number 4 zoo in the nation and is home to over 500 animal species. The zoo has a strong focus on education and employs many programs within the city’s school district.
Along with the zoo, families can enjoy the Botanical Gardens, the Fort Worth Children’s Museum and Hawaiian Falls, a great Fort Worth water park. There are many hot summer days in Fort Worth and what could be better than floating down a lazy river in a Hawaiian-themed water park?
We also can not forget the rodeo-life. Fort Worth is home to the world’s first year round, indoor rodeo. Stockyards Championship Rodeo is held every Friday and Saturday night. The show includes bull riding, team roping and barrel racing. Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show is a classic family event featuring trick riding and a singing cowboy. This city of Cowboys and Culture has entertainment for everyone.
Economic Growth/Low Unemployment
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fort Worth and its surrounding areas rank in the top 10 for lowest unemployment rate at 3.2 percent as of June 2019. One of the catalysts for this economic growth is the number of companies, both large and small. Corporate giants such as Toyota and AT&T have made Fort Worth their operation headquarters. Over the last 15 years, more than 90 percent of the businesses in Fort Worth have been small businesses (less than 500 employees).
The most popular industries in Fort Worth are oil, manufacturing and aviation and aerospace. The billion dollar oil corporation, Halliburton Company is headquartered in Fort Worth, and Lockheed Martin is among the leading defense and aerospace companies in the world.
Everyone from freelancers and entrepreneurs to tech startups are calling Fort Worth home. The more these businesses can grow, the more job security Fort Worth residents will have.
Combine all of these factors, and it’s easy to see why Fort Worth is one of the country’s best places to raise a family.
Great Neighborhoods
There are a plethora of neighborhoods new Fort Worthians may choose to plant their roots. Here are some of the most loved neighborhoods in Fort Worth:
- Arlington Heights. Arlington Heights is regularly ranked as one of the best areas in Fort Worth to reside, the area of Arlington Heights includes many popular communities such as Crestwood, Sunset Heights South and Monticello. There is no shortage of greenery in Arlington Heights. It encompasses countless parks and gardens. The Fort Worth Opera and Fairmont Historic District are located in Arlington Heights along with countless other amenities.
- Located on the southwest part of Fort Worth is Wedgwood. Most streets in this neighborhood begin with the letter “W.” Most of the houses in Wedgwood are brick ranch-style design. This neighborhood is a middle class neighborhood and houses range from the low 100’s to the high 300’s. Basketball courts and soccer fields can be seen throughout this neighborhood; and the man-made lake is a spectacular place to relax at the end of a busy work week.
- Fort Worth’s downtown is growing with residential population. Condos are popping up throughout the city’s central business district. Living downtown makes for a superb commute and puts residents within walking distance of endless entertainment, dining and shopping. Fort Worth downtown homes are known for their luxurious amenities.
- Southlake is a highly affluent neighborhood that is known for its first-rate public school system and home to Carroll High School’s 8-time state champion football team. This family friendly neighborhood is full of young professionals. It is approximately a half-hour commute from downtown Fort Worth.
Fort Worth home prices have increased over the past few years; however, they still remain surprisingly low. In fact, the cost of housing is 23% lower than the national average, with a median home price of $210,181. Fort Worth has become a highly popular place to move to, and several young families are taking advantage of these lower housing costs.
Transportation
Unlike New York or San Francisco where people use city transit systems, Fort Worthians drive. Luckily, Fort Worth is well-connected through various Interstates and State Highways, ensuring that everyone who lives within a 30-mile radius can easily access Downtown Fort Worth as well as the surrounding sister cities. Interstate 35W runs north/south and directly through the heart of Fort Worth, while the 820 loops around the Greater Fort Worth area.
For residents that dwell in Fort Worth’s downtown neighborhood, using the Fort Worth’s transit system will save them a great deal of hassle. Fort Worth possesses two transit systems: Named after the Trinity River, The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) serves as a commuter rail line carrying over 9,000 riders weekly. TEX Rail serves over 27 miles of the Fort Worth area ranging from downtown, with stops in Tarrant County, North Richard Hills to DFW International Airport.
Fort Worth City Buses run every 20 minutes throughout the three major Fort Worth districts. Trinity Metro Buses run from 6:15 am to 10:15 pm. The Molly Trolley operates seven days a week, from 10 am to 10 pm, and will have riders traveling to all the downtown hotspots in style.
The Fort Worth Bike Share (Fort Worth B-Cycle) has over 350 bicycles located throughout all Fort Worth’s major districts. Simply choose a bike, ride to your heart’s content and return it to any of the many stations located throughout the city.
Cabbing has almost exclusively been taken over by Uber and Lyft. Nonetheless, Fort Worth has two major cab companies that remain steady: Yellow Check Taxi and Cowboy Cab.
When locals and tourists need to fly to/from Fort Worth, DFW International Airport is easily accessible for most Fort Worth residents. Likewise, Amtrak stations in Fort Worth can transport riders to major U.S. cities, including Chicago, St. Louis, and Little Rock as well as several nearby Texas cities.
Climate
Nine months of the year you couldn’t ask for better weather. May brings highs in the upper eighties and lows in the sixties; and the Christmas season is brisk with highs in the fifties and sixties paired with sunny skies. This mild climate yields an enjoyable atmosphere for outdoor events. Fort Worth’s subtropical type of climate creates a mild winter. Fort Worthians picnicking and jogging is common during the winter months.
Conclusion
The Chicotsky Real Estate Group is excited to see so much growth in our hometown, and we have the expertise and knowledge young families need to find that perfect home, condo or townhome. Whether you need a small starter condo or a large single family home in a fantastic, family-friendly neighborhood in Fort Worth, we are here to help you! Please Contact Us today to find out more and schedule a showing.
