Tarrant County · North Texas community guide

Living in Westlake

Westlake is a small, exclusive town of estate neighborhoods and corporate campuses, with its own town-run public charter school, Westlake Academy.

Overview

About Westlake

The Westlake area was first settled in 1847 by Charles and Matilda Medlin and other pioneer families. In the mid-20th century much of it was the Circle T Ranch of Dallas businessman J. Glenn Turner. When residents incorporated in the late 1950s, the name Southlake was already taken, so they chose Westlake.

With 1,623 residents at the 2020 census, Westlake is one of the smallest and most exclusive communities in the region, home to luxury neighborhoods alongside corporate campuses such as Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments and Deloitte University.

Who Westlake suits

Westlake suits luxury buyers looking for estate-scale homes, privacy and gated neighborhoods, with school options that include Westlake Academy and surrounding districts.

At a glance

Westlake by the numbers

Typical home value$3,226,073Zillow ZHVI, September 2026; +2.1% year over year
Population1,6232020 U.S. Census
CountyTarrant CountyAlso: Denton County
Drive to downtown Fort Worth~28 minabout 23 miles (OSRM estimate, no traffic)
School rating (TEA 2026)A (98)Westlake Academy
ZIP codes76262, 76248

Figures are sourced below with their dates. Market values change; confirm current numbers with Jamie before making decisions.

Housing

Homes & neighborhoods

Westlake is known for luxury estate homes in neighborhoods such as Vaquero, a gated golf community, and Glenwyck Farms. Because public school assignment depends on the exact address, Jamie confirms school options for every home you consider.

Homes for sale

Homes for Sale in Westlake

MLS search coming soon

Search Homes in Westlake

Live MLS listings for Westlake (ZIP 76262, 76248) 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

Westlake school districts

DistrictTEA 2026TEA 2025Notes
Westlake AcademyA (98)A (98)A K–12 public charter school operated by the Town of Westlake, open to Westlake residents.
Northwest ISDB (82)B (81)Serves part of Westlake.
Keller ISDB (84)B (85)Serves part of Westlake.
Carroll ISDA (93)A (95)Serves part of Westlake.

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

Westlake home prices

Zillow's Home Value Index puts the typical Westlake home at $3,226,073 as of September 2026, up 2.1% 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.

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

Westlake property tax rates

2025 adopted rates per $100 of taxable value, from the Texas Comptroller:

Taxing unitRate per $100
Tarrant County$0.1862
Northwest ISD$1.0841
Combined (before special districts)$1.2703

No Westlake city property-tax rate appears in the Comptroller's 2025 city rate file, so the combined figure includes only the county and school district.

Example only: on a home appraised at the typical Westlake value of $3,226,073, the combined rate works out to about $40,981 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: Tarrant County, Denton County. This is general information, not tax advice.

Getting around

Commute & roads

SH 114 and SH 170 cross the town, connecting to Southlake, Roanoke, Alliance and DFW Airport; I-35W is a few minutes west.

  • Downtown Fort Worth: about 28 minutes / 23 miles
  • DFW International Airport: about 25 minutes
  • Graford: about 102 minutes

Drive times are routing estimates from OSRM without traffic; rush hour and highway construction can add significant time.

Outdoors

Lakes & recreation

Grapevine Lake is a short drive east, and the town keeps much of its rolling Cross Timbers terrain as open space around its neighborhoods.

Things to do

Notable attractions near Westlake

  • Public charter schoolWestlake Academy

    Town-operated K–12 International Baccalaureate charter school, rated A (98) by TEA in 2026.

  • Shopping & dining (nearby)Southlake Town Square

    Open-air shopping and dining district a few minutes east in Southlake.

  • Lake (nearby)Grapevine Lake

    Corps of Engineers lake for boating, fishing and trails.

Everyday life

Shopping, dining & amenities

Daily shopping and dining are close by in Southlake, Roanoke and Trophy Club, and DFW Airport is about 25 minutes away (OSRM estimate).

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.

Map

Westlake on the map

Use the layer button (top right of the map) to show TEA school district boundaries or FEMA flood hazard zones around Westlake.

Map of Westlake 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 Westlake

Local FAQ

Westlake questions

Is Westlake a good place to live?

It depends on what you need. Westlake suits luxury buyers looking for estate-scale homes, privacy and gated neighborhoods, with school options that include Westlake Academy and surrounding districts. Jamie is happy to tour Westlake with you and talk through schools, commute, taxes and lifestyle.

How far is Westlake from Fort Worth?

Westlake is about 28 minutes (23 miles) by car to downtown Fort Worth without traffic, based on OSRM routing estimates.

What school districts serve Westlake?

Westlake Academy (A, 98 in 2026); Northwest ISD (B, 82 in 2026); Keller ISD (B, 84 in 2026); Carroll ISD (A, 93 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 Westlake?

Using 2025 adopted rates from the Texas Comptroller, the combined county, city and school-district rate is about $1.2703 per $100 of taxable value (Tarrant County$0.1862; Northwest ISD$1.0841). 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 Westlake in?

Westlake is in Tarrant County, Denton County. Property values are set by the appraisal district for the county where the property sits.

What is the typical home value in Westlake?

Zillow's Home Value Index for Westlake was $3,226,073 as of September 2026 (+2.1% year over year). For a specific home, ask Jamie for a comparative market analysis.

Which schools serve Westlake?

Westlake residents may enroll in Westlake Academy, the town's public charter school, or attend Northwest ISD, Keller ISD or Carroll ISD depending on their address.

How do I file a homestead exemption in Westlake?

File with the Tarrant 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 Westlake 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

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

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