Best Cheapest Place to Live in Carrollton, TX 2025!

Everyone’s moving to Austin and Houston, while Carrollton just sits here being totally livable and affordable. Like, you can actually find a decent place without having three roommates or living in your car. It’s close enough to Dallas that you can go to good restaurants and concerts, but far enough out that rent won’t destroy your soul.

We’re not even exaggerating when we say the houses here average $340K (that’s basically a bargain in Texas right now). The rental market is amazing as well. You get actual amenities instead of just paying premium prices for the privilege of existing somewhere.

Check out this whole guide to learn more about the cheapest places to live in Carrollton!

Top 9 Most Affordable Places to Live in Carrollton, TX

Ah, the list you’ve been waiting for! We’ve broken down the neighborhoods where your money will go the furthest. We’ve ranked these based on affordability scores and some of these places are straight-up perfect 100s.

#1. Carrollton Heights – The Most Budget-Friendly Option

This is where you want to be if your budget is tight but you still want a decent place to live. It has perfect affordability scores and most people here make around $41K. So yeah, it’s designed for regular people, not tech bros.

The residents here have figured out how to live well without breaking the bank and they have a nice sense of community. Only 21% own their homes, which means plenty of rental options. You’re also close enough to highways that you won’t spend your life stuck in traffic.

The neighbors actually care about keeping their places nice, which is more than we can say for a lot of cheap neighborhoods.

#2. Carrollton Highlands – Family-Friendly Affordability

This has the same perfect affordability score, but way more homeowners (66% to be exact). The average income here jumps to $51K and you’re looking at people who are around 54 on average. These are people who’ve got their stuff together.

All residents here seem to have gotten the memo about being friendly (they score a 68 on friendliness) and the schools are awesome if you’ve got kids.

This is where you should move when you want affordable but also want to feel like a grown-up with your life sorted out.

#3. Old Downtown Carrollton – Historic Charm at Low Cost

Downtown living with that perfect 100 affordability score? Yes please! This area is quite gorgeous with all the historic buildings and local shops that actually matter to your daily life. You’ve got residents who are living it up with a median income of $49K. 63% of them own their homes.

The town square hosts events all the time, so you’ll never be bored. Plus, you can walk to dinner instead of driving everywhere like some kind of suburban zombie.

#4. Walnut Ave – Quiet Suburban Living

If you want peace and quiet without paying luxury prices, you may want to live in Walnut Ave. Their affordability score of 99 is basically perfect and with an average income of $40K, this neighborhood gets that not everyone is making six figures.

You’ve got lush green spaces everywhere, which can be rare these days, and the community actually knows each other’s names. Only 36% of people own homes here, so renters have options. You’re also close to everything you actually need: schools, shopping, restaurants that don’t suck.

#5. Santa Rosa Heights – Community-Focused Affordability

Another 99 on the affordability scale! Santa Rosa Heights is a family-friendly area without being boring. The residents here typically make around $48K on average, and the community vibe is strong. like, people actually care about the neighborhood and keep their places looking good.

You’re close to shopping and dining that doesn’t require a 30-minute drive and the schools are decent if you’ve got kids. This is suburban living done right, where 36% homeownership means plenty of rental options for everyone else.

#6. Woodcrest Estates – Small but Affordable

Don’t let the small size fool you. Woodcrest Estates has an affordability score of 98! The average income of $56K means people here are doing pretty well for themselves.

You’ve got mature trees everywhere (a luxury in Texas heat) and 53% of residents own their homes. It’s one of those places where everyone waves at each other and you actually want to hang out in your front yard.

#7. Holiday Park – Large Community, Low Costs

You get the best of both worlds in Holiday Park: a huge community of over 4,250 people but still affordable with a 97 score. The average income is $37K, so this place is designed for regular people. Definitely not trust fund babies.

What’s cool is that 67% of residents own their homes, which tells you this neighborhood has staying power. The parks are actually maintained and there’s a real sense of community. You get that suburban lifestyle without the suburban price tag.

#8. Martha Pointer Park – High Homeownership at Great Value

This place is quite the American dream in action. 91% of the residents own their homes and they’re making it work with a 95 affordability score. The average income is $63K, which is classic middle class territory.

Everyone’s around 47 years old on average, so you’re looking at established families who’ve figured out how to live well. The park is nice and gets used for community stuff, plus people are friendly (77 friendliness score) without being weird about it.

#9. Trinity Square – Mixed Residential and Business Area

Trinity Square will give you that cool mixed-use vibe where you can live above the action without the crazy downtown prices. It’s got residential homes mixed with local businesses, so you can literally walk to work if you’re lucky enough to snag a job nearby.

There’s a community park that’s actually worth using and the schools are perfect for families. Young professionals and families both end up here because it works for everyone’s lifestyle.

Cheap Places to Live in Carrollton, TX: Apartment Complexes and Rental Options

For sure, not everyone wants to deal with the homeowning process right now. There are actually many decent rentals in Carrollton’s and you’ve got options that won’t make you want to cry when rent is due.

Country Square Apartments – Budget-Friendly Community Living

If you want apartment living that doesn’t feel like you’re trapped in a concrete box, check out Country Square. The management isn’t terrible, which is a win.

You get decent amenities without paying those ridiculous luxury fees that seem to exist just to make you poor. The location is good, too. It’s close enough to everything you need but far enough from the chaos that you can actually sleep at night.

LYV Apartments – Downtown Living at Competitive Rent Prices

LYV is right in the heart of downtown Carrollton. This means you can walk to restaurants, bars, and actual fun stuff instead of driving everywhere like you’re living in suburban purgatory.

The apartments are modern without being stupidly expensive and you’re literally steps away from the town square, where they have events and farmers markets. Plus, you’re right by the DART station, so getting to Dallas is super easy when you need that big city fix.

The Union at Carrollton Square – Affordable Luxury Options

The Union will give you that luxury apartment vibe without completely destroying your bank account, though don’t expect all the bells and whistles. They’re less “luxury” than some places. You might not get a washer and dryer included and the hallways are open air (which some people love and others hate).

But the location is amazing. The price point makes sense if you want something nicer than basic but can’t afford the ridiculous “luxury” places that charge you extra for breathing.

Hillside Community Apartments – Suburban Comfort and Value

Hillside Community is perfect if you want that suburban apartment life without the suburban prices. You’re right by Rosemeade Heights with the rec center and dog park, so you get amenities without paying extra for them in your rent.

The location off Old Denton Road will also give you easy access to everything. The community actually feels like a community instead of just a place where strangers happen to live in the same building. It’s family-friendly without being boring and young professionals seem to love it here, too.

Cost of Living Analysis in Carrollton

Your money goes further in Carrollton than most places in Texas and that’s not just marketing fluff.

Housing Costs and Rent Comparison

The housing market here is actually reasonable. While everyone else is paying $2,000 for a closet in Austin, you can get a decent place in Carrollton without selling your firstborn.

Rent prices hover around levels that won’t make you question all your life choices. If you’re buying, that $340K median isn’t going to give you nightmares. Compare that to other DFW suburbs where you’re looking at $400K+ for something that isn’t falling apart, and Carrollton will look like genius-level decision making.

Transportation Savings with DART Rail Access

You’ve got three DART stations in Carrollton that’ll get you to downtown Dallas without the soul-crushing commute costs. There are the Trinity Mills, North Carrollton, and Downtown Carrollton stations, so you’re covered no matter where you live.

Your gas bill will stay sane, you don’t have to deal with parking downtown (which costs more than some people’s rent). You can actually read a book or scroll your phone instead of white-knuckling it through traffic. Plus transportation costs here are 6.4% lower than the national average, which means more money for tacos.

Utilities and Living Expenses

Utilities in Carrollton won’t shock you into bankruptcy, which is refreshing. The city keeps things reasonable. Utilities are 99.6% of the national average, so basically right on target.

Grocery costs are pretty much normal, too, at 100.8% of the national average and miscellaneous expenses are actually 4.7% below average.

Health costs are barely above average at 100.1%, so you’re not getting gouged just for existing. The overall cost of living is 105.1%, which sounds high until you realize that’s actually pretty decent for Texas these days.

Rental Market Trends and Pricing

The rental market here is not completely bonkers, though it’s definitely not 2019 prices anymore. You can find one-bedrooms that won’t eat your entire paycheck and two-bedrooms that leave you money for actually enjoying life.

The market stays pretty stable because there’s actual inventory. Developers haven’t completely ignored this area like they have other spots. Rent increases happen, but they’re not the “surprise, we doubled your rent” nonsense you see in trendier areas.

Most places seem to understand that pricing out all their tenants is bad business, which is apparently a revolutionary concept these days.

What Makes Carrollton an Affordable Choice

What makes Carrollton affordable? It boils down to a few factors. But ultimately, the city gets that people want quality of life AND the ability to pay their bills.

Strategic Location Benefits

Carrollton’s location is very strategic. You’re 20 minutes from Dallas when you want civilization, but far enough out that you’re not paying Dallas prices for everything.

DFW Airport is only 20 miles away, so you can actually afford to travel and if you prefer Love Field, that’s just 25 minutes. You’ve got major highways right there for easy commuting, but you’re not living on top of them listening to traffic all night.

Plus, you’re close to Plano, Addison, and Lewisville, so you can job-hop without moving if your career takes off.

Access to Quality Schools and Amenities

The schools here don’t suck, that’s for sure. You’ve got three different school districts serving the area and most of them score well: A and B+ ratings, not the disaster zones you find in some cheap areas.

Your kids can get a decent education without you having to pay private school tuition or move somewhere that costs twice as much. Plus, you’re within 30 minutes of UT Dallas, SMU, and the University of North Texas, so college is actually accessible.

Community Features That Add Value

The community stuff here actually adds value to your life instead of just existing to jack up property taxes. You’ve got parks that people use, rec centers that aren’t falling apart, and a downtown area with real shops and restaurants.

The town square hosts events regularly, so there’s always something happening that doesn’t cost a fortune. Korea Town will give you amazing food and shopping options. The whole area feels like an actual community instead of just a place where people sleep between work shifts.

Best Areas for Young Professionals

Young professionals love Carrollton because you can afford to live like an adult while still saving money and having fun. Here are some of the best areas to live in Carrollton if you’re a young professional, too.

• Downtown Carrollton: This is where most young professionals end up because you can walk to bars, restaurants, and coffee shops that don’t charge $8 for a latte. The DART access means you can go to Dallas for work or nightlife without owning a car or dealing with parking nightmares. LYV Apartments and the downtown area in general attract people in their 20s and 30s who want that urban vibe without urban prices.
• H Mart/Trinity Mills Station Area: This is another hotspot for young professionals, especially if you love good food and easy commuting. You’ve got amazing Korean restaurants, solid shopping, and the light rail right there. This area is perfect if you want convenience and culture without paying premium prices.
• Castle Hills (Hebron/SRT121): This will give you that suburban professional vibe if you want something quieter but still convenient. These areas attract people who’ve got their careers going but aren’t ready to sell out to suburban family life yet completely. You get space and quiet without being completely isolated from civilization.

Family-Friendly Budget Options

Families need space, good schools, and community stuff without having to choose between paying rent and feeding the kids. Carrollton offers all that! Here are the most family-friendly areas in Carrollton:

• Carrollton Heights & Carrollton Highlands: Both areas have perfect affordability scores while giving you neighborhoods where kids can actually play outside safely. The schools are good, the parks are maintained, and your neighbors aren’t weird about kids being kids. These are the spots where families put down roots.
• Holiday Park: With more than 4,250 residents and 67% homeownership, this place is the perfect example of a “stable family community.” You get that suburban vibe where people know each other’s names and kids ride bikes to school without parents having panic attacks.
• Santa Rosa Heights & Walnut Ave: These have affordability scores of 99 with quiet family life, decent schools, and green spaces that aren’t just for show. These neighborhoods get that families want safety and community without paying luxury prices.
• Martha Pointer Park: This place is also great for families with 91% homeownership and a friendliness score of 77. The park actually gets used for community events instead of just existing to make the neighborhood look good.

Selling a Property in Carrollton? Sell to Cash Buyers!

Selling a house can be a total pain in most cases. You’ve got to stage everything and deal with random people walking through your space, judging your decorating choice. Plus, you need to wait forever while buyers figure out if their bank will actually give them money.

Cash home buyers in Carrollton won’t have you go through all that. Your house doesn’t have to be Instagram-perfect and you don’t have to stress about deals falling through because someone’s financing got weird. You can close in like two weeks instead of two months.

In Carrollton, where houses tend to sell quickly anyway, going with cash just makes everything simpler. You get your money, they get the house, everyone moves on with their lives. As trusted cash home buyers in Dallas, our process makes fair cash offers, takes care of the paperwork, and closes on your timeline.

Key Takeaways: Best Cheapest Place to Live in Carrollton, TX

Carrollton is one of the best-kept secrets in Texas right now. Here, you get affordable housing that doesn’t suck, neighborhoods where people actually want to live, and proximity to Dallas without the Dallas price tag.

The perfect affordability scores in multiple neighborhoods aren’t just marketing fluff. They’re real, and the community amenities actually add value to your daily life.If you’re thinking about selling property in Carrollton and want to skip the traditional real estate headaches, reach out to us at Ready House Buyer or call (214) 225-3038. Sometimes the simplest path is the best one!