Moving to Communities and Municipalities in Kaufman County: What to Know Before You Buy

Kaufman County, Texas is one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, and the case for moving here is straightforward: more land, lower prices than closer-in Dallas suburbs, genuine small-town character, and commute access to a major metro job market. Communities like Forney, Crandall, Heartland, Talty, and Terrell each solve that equation a little differently, whether you are shopping at the mid-range or at the luxury end of the market.

Here is what every buyer needs to know before choosing a community in Kaufman County.

Why Kaufman County Is Growing So Fast

Kaufman County's population growth is among the fastest in the United States, and Census data confirms the pace. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the county added approximately 11,225 residents, ranking third nationally for percentage population growth at approximately 5.6% during that period, per the U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimates released in March 2026. In the prior period (July 2023 to July 2024), the county ranked second nationally with a growth rate of approximately 6%, per Vintage 2024 estimates.

Since 2020, the county has grown by more than a third in total population, driven overwhelmingly by domestic migration from higher-cost Dallas-area submarkets. The draw is clear: land, relative affordability, and the infrastructure of a functioning community rather than a distant outpost.

Major roadways (I-20, US-80, FM 548, FM 741) connect the county's communities to eastern Metroplex employment centers. That access has made Kaufman County the logical next frontier for DFW buyers priced out of nearby eastern submarkets.

One important budget note: Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes carry more weight in the monthly equation. Rates vary by city and special utility district, and can differ between zip codes within the same city. Always verify the specific rate for any property you are seriously considering directly with the Kaufman County Appraisal District. Homestead exemptions (available to primary-residence owners) cap annual appraisal increases at 10% per year, providing meaningful long-term tax protection.

Forney: Kaufman County's Largest City for Amenities

Forney is Kaufman County's most amenity-rich city, offering buyers the widest selection of groceries, dining, retail, and healthcare in the county, all within 20 to 22 miles of downtown Dallas via US-80.

The Forney housing market in Q2 2026 reflected a buyer-friendly environment. Median sale prices came in at $315,000 for the quarter ending June 30, 2026 (a 10% year-over-year decline) with 6.0 months of active inventory, per regional MLS data. Buyers were closing at approximately 94.4% of original list price, meaning negotiating room is real and meaningful.

Entry-level and mid-range buyers will find the bulk of the market in the $240,000 to $399,000 band, which accounted for more than 72% of Q2 2026 closings. Move-up buyers have a strong selection in master-planned communities like Devonshire, Gateway Parks, Windmill Farms, and the newly launched Meraki (a 1,079-acre development featuring lakes and trails) with prices generally in the $400,000 to $600,000 range.

For buyers seeking luxury finishes, larger lots, and premium construction, Forney's upper-tier new construction market reaches into the $600,000s and above. Builders across all price points are actively competing for buyers with rate buydowns, closing cost assistance, and upgrade incentive packages that often add more value than a price reduction alone.

Crandall and Heartland: Master-Planned Living from Entry Level to Upper-Mid

Heartland is one of the most comprehensive master-planned communities in the DFW area: a 1,600-acre development located about 25 miles southeast of Dallas, built around 400 acres of parks and green space, a 35-acre stocked lake with a fishing pier, and miles of hike and bike trails.

Two full amenity compounds anchor the community's lifestyle offer, including the newer Oasis center with dual 30-foot waterslides, three pools, a 5,000-square-foot event center, and a 6,000-square-foot fitness facility.

New home prices at Heartland range from the $240,000s to the $610,000s (prices vary by builder and phase). That price breadth makes Heartland genuinely inclusive: a first-time buyer and a luxury move-up buyer can both find something appropriate within the same community.

Builders in Heartland include:

• Highland Homes

• Coventry Homes

• Chesmar Homes

• KB Home

• Davidson Homes

The onsite Heartland Town Center commercial development, anchored by high-traffic I-20 frontage, is bringing retail and dining directly to residents, reducing the need to drive into neighboring cities for everyday needs.

For buyers in the mid-range and upper tiers of Heartland, the mix of established resale and new construction phases creates negotiating opportunities that vary considerably from street to street. Working with an agent with active knowledge of current phase releases and builder incentive cycles is genuinely valuable in this market.

Talty: Low-Density Living with a Luxury Lean

Talty is a small city in northwestern Kaufman County that offers something increasingly rare in the DFW Metroplex: a predominantly rural, lower-density residential character with larger lot sizes, minimal commercial intrusion, and a quiet pace that attracts buyers who want space without sacrificing proximity to the metro.

The housing market in Talty skews toward the mid-range and upper tiers. Aggregated MLS listing data for the period ending August 2026 shows active listings centered in the $400,000s to $700,000s, with a meaningful segment of luxury properties (including custom homes on acreage) extending above that range. Custom builds in Talty regularly feature one-acre-plus lots, four-car garages, open-concept floorplans with high-end finish packages, and the settled, private character that master-planned communities simply cannot replicate. For luxury buyers, the value proposition is clear: equivalent budgets in adjacent counties routinely carry a 20% to 30% price premium for comparable square footage and land.

New construction in communities like Maplewood Meadows brings more contemporary floor plans to Talty, while resale inventory often features larger parcels, mature trees, and established neighborhood character. The city's community roots run deep. Originally called Layden's Ridge and later Irish Ridge, the area was legally established with the filing of deeds in 1874 by Irish Catholic pioneers including the Layden and Vaughan families, and formally incorporated as a general law municipality in 1999, giving it a heritage that few newer communities in the Metroplex can match.

For buyers considering luxury or estate-level properties east of Dallas, Talty warrants serious consideration.

Terrell: The County's Most Accessible Entry Point

Terrell is approximately 30 to 32 miles east of downtown Dallas along I-20 and is the most price-accessible of Kaufman County's major communities. Move-in-ready homes in the $180,000s to $320,000 range are available across both established resale neighborhoods near historic downtown and active new construction subdivisions on the city's growth edges, a mid-range price range that is increasingly hard to find in closer-in suburbs.

A major economic driver underway in Terrell is Terra Nova, a $3 billion master-planned community. Planned across 15 phases over approximately 20 years, Terra Nova is projected to bring thousands of homes, significant retail, and substantial employment, positioning early buyers as potential beneficiaries of a long-term growth curve.

Active new construction in Terrell includes Phase 1A of the Northspur development (236 single-family lots), Chisholm Trace (91 homes), and Kingsman Estates (36 homes), with builder incentives including rate buydowns and closing cost credits common across the market. Effective property tax rates in Terrell vary by zip code and parcel, so always confirm the specific burden for any address you are seriously considering.

The typical commute from Terrell to downtown Dallas runs 35 to 45 minutes under normal conditions via I-20, extending during peak hours. For buyers working in eastern Metroplex employment centers, the drive is often considerably shorter.

Which Kaufman County Community Is Right for You?

Each community in Kaufman County solves a different buyer problem. Here is a quick side-by-side:

Across all four communities, a few fundamentals hold: Texas has no state income tax, values are lower than comparable Dallas-proper addresses, and the county's population growth continues to attract residential and commercial investment that raises quality of life over time.

Buyers who want to pressure-test monthly payment scenarios across different price tiers before committing to a range may find an online affordability calculator and a step-by-step buyer process guide to be useful reference tools. 

Whether you are drawn to Forney's amenities, Heartland's resort lifestyle, Talty's luxury acreage, or Terrell's long-term growth story, moving to Kaufman County offers high value per dollar across price tiers from mid-range to luxury.

FAQ: Moving to Kaufman County Communities

• How far are Kaufman County communities from Dallas?

Distances and drive times vary by city. Forney is approximately 20 to 22 miles east of downtown Dallas via US-80, with typical commutes of 25 to 35 minutes. Heartland and Crandall sit about 25 miles out, generally 30 to 40 minutes under normal conditions. Talty is roughly 25 miles from Dallas, similar to Crandall. Terrell is approximately 32 miles east via I-20, with commutes of 35 to 45 minutes in normal traffic. All times extend during peak rush hours, and buyers with specific workplace destinations should test the actual commute before committing.

• What is the property tax situation in Kaufman County?

Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes are a meaningful budget line. Rates in Kaufman County vary by city and special utility or service districts, and differ even between zip codes within the same city. As a general range, effective rates across the county run roughly 1.4% to 2.0% of assessed value, but always verify the specific rate for any address you are considering with the Kaufman County Appraisal District. Texas homestead exemptions cap annual appraisal increases at 10% per year once filed, which provides meaningful long-term protection against tax escalation.

• Are there luxury homes available in Kaufman County?

Yes. Talty has the county's most established upper-tier market, with custom homes on one-acre-plus lots featuring luxury finishes, four-car garages, and private settings, generally priced from the $500,000s into the $700,000s and above. Forney's master-planned communities offer luxury new construction in the upper $400,000s through $600,000s and beyond. Heartland's builder lineup extends to the $610,000s for larger, premium-spec homes. Across the county, buyers at the luxury and upper-mid tiers typically receive significantly more square footage, lot size, and finish quality per dollar than equivalent budgets achieve in neighboring counties.

• What is the Kaufman County real estate market like for buyers right now?

Conditions across much of Kaufman County are buyer-favorable. Forney's market (6.0 months of inventory as of Q2 2026, per MLS data) gives buyers real negotiating room and meaningful builder incentive packages. Terrell's market offers extended days-on-market and seller concessions that are rare in tighter DFW submarkets. The county's long-term growth trajectory, anchored by sustained population inflows and major development investment like Terrell's Terra Nova project, suggests the window of relative affordability may narrow as infrastructure and amenities continue to build out.