5 Best Family Neighborhoods in Fort Worth, TX

Moving to a new city is always challenging. And a large part of that challenge is looking for a place to live. There are so many things to consider when weighing your options-house styles, neighborhood safety, quality of schools, the convenience of location-it all can be quite overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve done the research for you, so you don’t have to. You’ve no doubt seen our Fort Worth City Guide, which includes a short section on a few of Fort Worth’s most popular neighborhoods.
This list and our “Best Neighborhoods in Fort Worth,” and “Up and Coming Neighborhoods in Fort Worth” lists are more in-depth neighborhood guides meant to examine what it’s like living in each of these highlighted areas, with links to popular destinations, as well as available houses for sale and apartments for rent (and by the way of introduction, we’re Bellhop—movers in Fort Worth and beyond).

An Overview of Fort Worth and its Neighborhoods

You don’t have to be a cowboy to live in Fort Worth. 

Yes, you’ve probably heard of the area’s famous gun shows, rodeos, and bull riding. But one weekend in Fort Worth will show you that there’s so much more to this growing city than souvenir shops where you can buy a bottle opener shaped like a boot. In fact, this city, sitting 30 miles west of Dallas, is growing faster than more widely known cities like Austin and San Francisco. 

Why this rapid growth? Fort Worth has mastered the balance of a small-town feel with vibrant urbanism. Popular residential areas around the city have low crime rates. Housing prices are lower than in other large cities in Texas. And residents take pride in and preserve the area’s interesting history, making it a city rich in culture and full of entertainment. 

Oh, and because of BBQ Brisket. 

Residents usually talk about the city by dividing it into regions – for example, “north side” or “east fort worth” – or they’ll reference popular areas in the city like Downtown, the Stockyards, and the Camp Bowie District. Fort Worth is further sub-sectioned into dozens of neighborhoods, some that resemble the old west, some glittering with city lights, and framed by high-rises. Below, we’ve narrowed down five Fort Worth neighborhoods that are growing especially fast. 

Keep reading to see what’s up and coming in this welcoming, western city.

Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights is home to a blend of residents of all ages and stages in life. Families post up next to young professionals, and the area offers plenty of affordable housing options, whether you’re looking for a 1-bedroom apartment or a 4-bedroom home. 

This neighborhood feels like a little suburban pocket that’s tucked close to busier areas like the Cultural District and West 7th. And residents enjoy their easy commutes to any part of the DFW area via nearby I-30. 

What’s Happening in Arlington Heights

Camp Bowie Blvd. runs through the center of Arlington Heights. This street features most of the area’s best restaurants and shops. For boutiques, high-end stores, and the Movie Tavern, check out Montgomery Plaza. 

The nearby Fort Worth Botanic Garden houses over 2,000 species of plants. Or for some eats and drinks, check out some of the neighborhood favorites like Blue Bonnet Bakery, Mash’d, Landmark Bar & Kitchen.

Schools in Arlington Heights

Schools in the area include South Hi Mount Elementary School, Stripling Junior High School, and Arlington Heights High School among others.

Homes in Arlington Heights

The quiet residential areas of Arlington Heights are filled with many beautiful and affordable places to live. It’s a great spot to buy your first home, with lots of smaller bungalow and craftsman-style homes. Here are some of the current houses for sale and apartments for rent in the area.

Tanglewood

This neighborhood feels like an established community, but it’s thriving with new and diverse residents. Homes sit back on large lawns speckled by aged trees, flower gardens, and pretty front porches. 

Houses in the area are still more affordable than other surrounding areas like Westcliff. And the neighborhood has the lowest crime rates in the city, making this a very popular spot among families of all ages.

What’s Happening in Tanglewood

Residents of Tanglewood enjoy their close proximity to the new and upscale Shops at Clearfork. Families also take advantage of the closeby Overton Park which is filled with jogging trails. 

For some local eats and drinks, check out Local Foods Kitchen, The Tavern, and CRU Food & Wine Bar.

Schools in Tanglewood

Schools in the area include Tanglewood Elementary School, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, Paschal High School, and Westcliff School among others.

Homes in Tanglewood

Tanglewood offers a wide variety of housing options. You’ll find homes at various prices and in different styles, and sizes. Do some window shopping and check out some of the current houses for sale and homes for rent in the area.

TCU-West Cliff

This region has been nicknamed for its proximity to Texas Christian University, which has brought in its fair share of new residents to the area. While TCU / West Cliff does house a lot of students, this area’s low crime rates, decent housing prices, convenient shops and restaurants, and nearby famous Fort Worth Zoo have brought in plenty of families and long-term residents. 

The neighborhood is also close to other popular spots like Colonial and Tanglewood, which offer spill-over residential areas as well as their own shops and hot spots. 

What’s Happening in TCU-West Cliff

This area features a blend of dining options, from hip spots that appeal to the students and recent grads in the area to casual spots that are family-friendly. Check out Woodshed Smokehouse, Dutch’s Hamburgers, and Pizza Snob if you want to please the kids. Need a date night? Stop into a locally-loved dive bar, The Pub. 

University Park Village has plenty of shops including boutiques and classics. 

Schools in TCU-West Cliff

Schools in the area include Westcliff Elementary School, W.P. McLean Middle School, and R.L. Paschal High School among others.

Homes in TCU-West Cliff

Closer to the college, you’ll find mainly student housing. But the surrounding streets are full of attractive single-family homes and charming spaces for rent. Here are some of the current houses for sale and homes for rent in the area.

Coppell

This family-friendly suburb sits between Fort Worth and Dallas. It appeals especially to families who love the outdoors, with the nearby Coppell Nature Park at residents’ fingertips. And Legoland Discovery Center offers a fun destination for families on rainy days. 

What’s Happening in Coppell

Coppell offers plenty of great spots for the whole family. Round 1 Bowling & Amusement is often full of kids rolling through padded obstacle courses. Families fish off the pier at the newly renovated Andrew Brown Park East. And Hard Eight BBQ has enough saucy brisket to go around the table several times. For date night, hit up J. Macklin’s Grill.

Schools in Coppell

Schools in the area include Pinkerton Elementary School, Lakeside Elementary School, Coppell Classical Academy, and New Tech High among others. 

Homes in Coppell

In Coppell, it’s possible to find large, gorgeous homes for around $300k that would cost over $1 million in populous metro areas. Check out what’s currently available for buying and renting in the area.

Fairmount

Fairmont is one of the most unique and eclectic neighborhoods in Fort Worth. Dating back to the 1800s, Fairmont is also one of the largest historic neighborhoods in the southwestern United States. The past 10 years have brought an uptick in investment and growth in the area, and today, Magnolia Avenue is buzzing with new businesses and some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. 

With convenient access to Downtown, TCU, and the thriving Cultural District, Fairmont is a great location for singles, professionals, and young families. While this neighborhood is thought by many locals to be the most up-and-coming spot in the city, the area is still affordable with plenty of room for newcomers.

What’s Happening in Fairmount

Fairmont is known for its exciting community events like ArtsGoggle and Open Streets. But aside from these occasional block parties, this neighborhood features plenty of great restaurants, bars, cafes, community gardens, live shows, and corner shops. 

Start your morning here with a cup of coffee from Brewed or Dixie House Cafe. Take a stroll through the Fairmont Garden. Treat yourself to two scoops at Melt. Grab a brisket taco from the Mexican Inn Cafe. Buy a bottle of wine, and end the evening with a live concert at Arts Fifth Avenue.

Schools in Fairmount

Schools in the area include De Zavala Elementary School, Daggett Middle School, R.L. Paschal High School, and Trimble Technical High School among others.

Homes in Fairmount

The houses in Fairmount are incredibly charming with cozy wood siding and large welcoming front porches. There are also lots of places for rent in the area. Shop around and check out some of the current houses for sale and apartments for rent in the area.

There You Have It: 5 Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in Fort Worth!

We hope this was helpful, and if you decide to take the plunge, don’t hesitate to reach out to your friends here at Bellhop. As we said, we coordinate local and long-distance moving services in Fort Worth, and we would love to help.