Real estate in Carrollton, without the guesswork.

Carrollton is a city of about 134,562 people (July 2025 Census estimate) spread across Dallas, Denton and Collin counties, with I-35E, the President George Bush Turnpike and the Sam Rayburn Tollway running through or along it. It has three DART stations (North Carrollton/Frankford, Trinity Mills and Downtown Carrollton), and since Oct. 25, 2025 Downtown Carrollton has also been a stop on the Silver Line to DFW Airport. Koreatown Carrollton, at Old Denton Road and the Bush Turnpike, is a regional dining and shopping hub.

For tax year 2025 a Carrollton home in Dallas County and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD paid about 2.02% combined (city 0.5375, CFB ISD 0.9481, plus 0.534075 for Dallas County, Parkland Hospital and Dallas College per $100). For 2026 the city held 0.5375 and CFB ISD held 0.9481, and the Dallas County side is estimated near 2.05% after a higher county estimate, while the Denton County and Lewisville ISD side is about 1.80% (Denton County 0.183394, Lewisville ISD 1.0778). On a $400,000 home that is roughly $600 to $685 a month before the city's 20% homestead exemption and the school exemptions.

If you commute to DFW Airport or Downtown Dallas, look near Downtown Carrollton or Trinity Mills, where rail can replace some drives. Run the payment both ways before choosing between a CFB ISD home in Dallas County and a Lewisville ISD home in Denton County, since the 2026 combined rate differs by about a quarter of a percentage point. Then confirm the assigned campuses with the district, because the lines do not follow city streets neatly.

The lesson here is that one Carrollton address can sit in a different county, school district and tax bill than the house a mile away. In 2026 the combined rate runs from about 1.80% in the Denton County and Lewisville ISD part of the city to about 2.05% in the Dallas County and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD part, so the same $400,000 home can cost about $80 a month more or less in taxes alone. Before you compare two listings on price, compare their full monthly payment.

Carrollton buyers are often comparing your home against similar homes in a different school district or county with a different tax bill, so highlight the district, the tax rate and the commute in your listing, not just the finishes. Homes sold at a median of 99.1% of list in August 2026 per Zillow, which rewards accurate pricing over aggressive pricing. In older housing stock, a pre-listing inspection and fixing roof, foundation and HVAC items up front usually holds your price better than a last-minute kitchen update.