Dallas suburbs now extend farther from city limits than ever before. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is home to perhaps 100 suburbs. As the cities grew, small towns within a half-hour driving distance found themselves exploding with population growth. People began migrating farther away from the cities—up to a 90-minute drive in some places—to find a small-town or country atmosphere. After a day of traffic jams and high-pressure meetings, people looked forward to decompressing on the drive home and enjoying the quiet of rural living.

Some of the most quickly growing communities in the Metroplex are the small towns that are hanging onto their individuality and values. They are known for their great school districts, golf courses, wide-open spaces, and slower-paced lifestyles.

According to statistics from the Texas A&M Real Estate Center, here are some of the most quickly growing small towns and rural areas that are currently Dallas suburbs.

Sasche-Rowlett

These two towns are located east of Dallas but are both within a 30-45-minute drive from downtown. Rowlett, a 130-year-old town that straddles Dallas and Rockwall counties had 56,000 residents at the time of the 2010 census. In recent years, it has become an upscale community that offers residents water sports on the lake and several popular golf courses.

Just northeast of Garland, Sasche is a small town that was settled in the 1860s. It had a population of 20,000 in 2010. This laid-back town began to grow after the completion of the President George Bush Turnpike, which gives residents quicker access to downtown Dallas. It is known for its shopping, particularly the Firewheel Town Center.

Denton County

North of the Metroplex is Denton County, home of the University of North Texas and Texas Women’s University. It includes the towns of Argyle, Aubrey, Little Elm, Lewisville, Ponder, and Sanger. Each of these cities has its own school district and small-town appeal, but Lewisville is being quickly absorbed by the upscale Southlake community and Flower Mound. The City of Denton strives to keep its culture and distinctive charm. Residents enjoy its blend of university culture and small-town values.

Kaufman County

South and east of Dallas, in the beginnings of East Texas, is Kaufman County. The county seat is Kaufman, which maintains the look and feel of a small Texas town. The county is also home to the towns of Terrell, Mabank, Forney, and Scurry.

Forney is closest to Dallas and is one of the most quickly growing. Nonetheless, the residents of Forney strive to keep their town distinct from the Metroplex. It was designated by the state legislature as “The Antique Capital of Texas” because of its quaint antique stores.

Terrell is located 32 miles from Dallas. It is well known for being the home of the number one British Flying Training School for Royal Air Force airmen. The city is proud of its aviation ties.

Scurry is a small town of only 700 and was incorporated a mere 10 years ago. The community nearly died out after the Great Depression. The expanding Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has put Scurry back on the map.

Mabank straddles Kaufman and Henderson counties. It is located on Cedar Creek Reservoir and has homes near and bordering the lake where one can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, and water-skiing.

Learn more about the Dallas real estate market.

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