Denton County · North Texas community guide
Living in Little Elm
Little Elm is a fast-growing lake town on Lewisville Lake, with a public beach and lakefront district, master-planned neighborhoods and quick access to Frisco.
Overview
About Little Elm
C.C. "Kit" King established Little Elm along the lake area in 1844, and in 1852 he became postmaster of Denton County's first post office. The community incorporated in 1966 and counted 363 residents in 1970.
Growth exploded after 2000: from 3,646 residents in 2000 to 25,898 in 2010 and 46,453 at the 2020 census, making it one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Texas by percentage.
Central Little Elm is surrounded on three sides by Lewisville Lake, and most residents live in single-family homes in master-planned subdivisions built from the late 1990s on.
Who Little Elm suits
Little Elm suits buyers who want newer homes, lake recreation and value compared with nearby Frisco, with quick access to the Dallas North Tollway and US 380.
At a glance
Little Elm by the numbers
Figures are sourced below with their dates. Market values change; confirm current numbers with Jamie before making decisions.
Housing
Homes & neighborhoods
Most homes are in master-planned subdivisions built from the late 1990s through today, with a growing number of townhomes and apartments near the lakefront. Many communities carry MUD or PID assessments, so Jamie checks the full tax picture.
Homes for sale
Homes for Sale in Little Elm
MLS search coming soonSearch Homes in Little Elm
Live MLS listings for Little Elm (ZIP 75068) are coming to this page soon. In the meantime, Jamie will happily send you current listings that match what you are looking for, including new and coming-soon homes.
Schools
Little Elm school districts
| District | TEA 2026 | TEA 2025 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Elm ISD | C (78) | C (79) | Serves most of Little Elm. |
| Frisco ISD | A (91) | A (90) | Serves parts of Little Elm. |
| Denton ISD | C (76) | B (80) | Serves some northern addresses. |
High school campus ratings
- Little Elm High School: B (84) in 2026
Ratings are Texas Education Agency A–F accountability ratings (overall score in parentheses), released August 2026. See campus details on TXschools.gov. School boundaries change and don't follow city limits; confirm the assigned schools for any address with the district.
Market notes · as of September 2026
Little Elm home prices
Zillow's Home Value Index puts the typical Little Elm home at $390,812 as of September 2026, down 5.3% from a year earlier. The index is a smoothed, seasonally adjusted measure of mid-tier single-family homes and condos, not a sale price for any one house.
For comparison, Zillow's Fort Worth index was $292,949 in the same month.
More local numbers (September 2026)
- Realtor.com, ZIP 75068 (Little Elm): median list price $432,225, 421 active listings, 67 median days on market, 30.1% of listings with a price cut. Source: Realtor.com Research ZIP inventory.
- GFWAR/TRERC MLS, ZIP 75068 (Little Elm): 91 closed sales, median sold price $411,995, 88 days on market, 5.4 months of inventory. Source: Greater Fort Worth REALTORS® ZIP Detail (Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center).
List prices (Realtor.com) and sold prices (MLS) measure different things and aren't directly comparable. Small markets can swing sharply month to month.
Values vary widely by street, lot size, age and condition, especially where acreage, waterfront or new construction is involved. Before you buy or list, ask Jamie for a free comparative market analysis built from current active, pending and sold listings in the NTREIS MLS.
Property taxes
Little Elm property tax rates
2025 adopted rates per $100 of taxable value, from the Texas Comptroller:
| Taxing unit | Rate per $100 |
|---|---|
| Denton County | $0.1859 |
| City of Little Elm | $0.5499 |
| Little Elm ISD | $1.2252 |
| Combined (before special districts) | $1.9610 |
Example only: on a home appraised at the typical Little Elm value of $390,812, the combined rate works out to about $7,664 a year before exemptions. A homestead exemption lowers the school-tax portion (school districts must exempt $140,000 of a homestead's value, with an additional $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled, per the Texas Comptroller). Your actual bill depends on the appraised value, exemptions and any special districts.
Special districts (hospital, college, emergency services, MUD/PID and others) are not included and vary by property. Appraisal district: Denton County. This is general information, not tax advice.
Getting around
Commute & roads
US 380 runs along the north, Eldorado Parkway and FM 423 connect east to Frisco and the Dallas North Tollway, and the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge links west to Lake Dallas.
- Downtown Fort Worth: about 62 minutes / 51 miles
- DFW International Airport: about 42 minutes
- Downtown Dallas: about 47 minutes / 34 miles
- Downtown Denton: about 25 minutes
- Graford: about 135 minutes
Drive times are routing estimates from OSRM without traffic; rush hour and highway construction can add significant time.
Outdoors
Lakes & recreation
Little Elm Park on Lewisville Lake has a public beach, and the lake offers boating, paddling and fishing throughout the town.
Things to do
Notable attractions near Little Elm
- Park and beachLittle Elm Park & beach
Town park on Lewisville Lake with a public beach and lake access.
- LakeLewisville Lake
Corps of Engineers lake surrounding central Little Elm on three sides.
Everyday life
Shopping, dining & amenities
Restaurants and shops cluster in the lakefront area and along FM 423, Eldorado Parkway and US 380, with Frisco's major retail a short drive east.
Due diligence
Utilities, internet & flood checks
- Electricity: parts of this area are open to retail electric choice (compare plans at PowerToChoose.org), while many rural and some city areas are served by an electric cooperative or municipal utility with no choice. The provider depends on the exact address.
- Water & sewer: inside city limits, service usually comes from the city or a water supply corporation. Outside city limits, homes often rely on a water supply corporation or a private well plus an on-site septic system (OSSF). Ask for well and septic inspections before closing.
- Internet: options range from fiber and cable in town to fixed wireless and satellite in the country. Check any address on the FCC National Broadband Map.
- Flood risk: look up the property on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and ask your insurance agent about flood coverage, even outside a mapped flood zone.
- Groundwater: Denton County is in the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, which has well registration rules.
Map
Little Elm on the map
Use the layer button (top right of the map) to show TEA school district boundaries or FEMA flood hazard zones around Little Elm.
Map of Little Elm loads here…
School district and flood layers are for general reference only. Verify districts with the TEA School District Locator or the district, and flood zones with the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and a survey or elevation certificate. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Keep reading
More on Little Elm
Local FAQ
Little Elm questions
Is Little Elm a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. Little Elm suits buyers who want newer homes, lake recreation and value compared with nearby Frisco, with quick access to the Dallas North Tollway and US 380. Jamie is happy to tour Little Elm with you and talk through schools, commute, taxes and lifestyle.
How far is Little Elm from Fort Worth?
Little Elm is about 62 minutes (51 miles) by car to downtown Fort Worth without traffic, based on OSRM routing estimates.
What school districts serve Little Elm?
Little Elm ISD (C, 78 in 2026); Frisco ISD (A, 91 in 2026); Denton ISD (C, 76 in 2026). Ratings are TEA 2026 A–F accountability ratings. District boundaries do not follow city limits, so always confirm the school district for a specific address.
What is the property tax rate in Little Elm?
Using 2025 adopted rates from the Texas Comptroller, the combined county, city and school-district rate is about $1.9610 per $100 of taxable value (Denton County$0.1859; City of Little Elm$0.5499; Little Elm ISD$1.2252). Special districts such as hospital, college, emergency services or MUD/PID districts can add to this. Check the exact property with its appraisal district.
What county and appraisal district is Little Elm in?
Little Elm is in Denton County. Property values are set by the appraisal district for the county where the property sits.
What is the typical home value in Little Elm?
Zillow's Home Value Index for Little Elm was $390,812 as of September 2026 (-5.3% year over year). For a specific home, ask Jamie for a comparative market analysis.
Which school district serves Little Elm?
Little Elm ISD serves most of the town, but parts are in Frisco ISD or Denton ISD. Confirm the district for each address.
Can I buy a home on Lewisville Lake?
Lewisville Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir, and the Corps owns a strip of shoreline around it, so most homes are near the lake rather than on private waterfront, and private docks are very limited. Check the Corps boundary, flood maps and any shoreline rules for a specific property with the Corps of Engineers.
What are MUD and PID taxes, and how do I check them?
Many newer North Texas communities are in a municipal utility district (MUD), public improvement district (PID) or similar special district that adds a tax or assessment on top of county, city and school taxes. Texas requires sellers to give buyers a notice about many of these districts. Ask for the latest tax bill and look up the property on the Denton Central Appraisal District (or the county's appraisal district) before you write an offer.
How do I file a homestead exemption in Little Elm?
File with the Denton County appraisal district once the home is your principal residence; there is no fee. School districts must exempt $140,000 of a homestead's value, plus an additional $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled (Texas Comptroller). The general deadline is before May 1. Find the district's contact information in the Comptroller's county directory.
Does Little Elm flood, and how do I check a property?
Flood risk is property-specific, often tied to creeks, rivers and low areas. Look up the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, ask for the seller's disclosure and any elevation certificate, and get a flood-insurance quote even outside a mapped flood zone.
What internet service is available?
It varies by address, from fiber and cable in town to fixed wireless and satellite in rural areas. Enter the exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map and ask the seller what they use before you buy.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- Zillow Research, ZHVI by city (as of September 2026)
- Realtor.com Research ZIP inventory (September 2026)
- Greater Fort Worth REALTORS® ZIP Detail (Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center) (September 2026)
- Texas Education Agency, 2026 Statewide Multi-Year Ratings and TXschools.gov
- Texas Comptroller, 2025 county, city and school district tax rates · Comptroller exemptions
- Appraisal district contacts (Comptroller county directory): Denton County
- Wikipedia: Little Elm (history; 2020 U.S. Census population)
- OSRM routing (drive-time estimates)
- Official site: Little Elm
This content is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and deadlines change. Confirm details with the appropriate agency, attorney, CPA or lender.
Explore nearby
Thinking about Little Elm?
Nearby: The Colony · Frisco (Denton County) · Lake Dallas · Aubrey · All communities