Living In Little Elm: The Pros & Cons

With one of the 7th fastest population growths in the DFW area, development in Little Elm is in line with neighboring cities such as Frisco and McKinney.  

The tremendous growth Little Elm has been experiencing has seen a steady stream of new residents looking to set down family roots in the area.  

If you are searching for a place that promotes functionality, livability, and enduring beauty, VIP Realty offers listings for homes located in desirable Little Elm neighborhoods. 

Contact us today and we will guarantee nothing less than a family-friendly environment to raise your family. 

Living in Little Elm 

When it comes to the location of your home and the surroundings, their influence on your family's welfare and living standards must be positive. 

Ranked #58 in Texas and #101 in the US, Little Elm boasts a livability score of 88 out of 100. It also ranks better than 90% of the cities in the country. Such stats make Little Elm a very livable city.  

With the help of professional real estate agents, finding affordable Little Elm homes for sale is a walk in the park. Little Elm real estate offers the best of both worlds; a combination of a small town with the amenities of a big city.  

There is much to admire and dislike about Little Elm with plenty to see and do around the city and beyond. We will let you decide whether the pros and cons are deal-breakers. 

Pros 

Small Town Atmosphere 

Though smaller than nearby suburbs including Plano, McKinney, and Frisco, Little Elm is one of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas. The city balances its growth with small-town charm making it the ideal location to raise a family. 

Little Elm's motto “Town with a Lake Attitude”, says it all. The inviting lakeside community offers the comfort of a small-town while being within reach of big-city amenities.  

Cheap Housing 

Little Elm stands out from nearby suburbs as most residences, offices, and schools in the city are from 2000. During that time, nearby McKinney and Frisco were already booming, whilst Little Elm was still small.  

The median age of a home in McKinney is 14.3% older than the median age of a home in Little Elm. Having said that, housing costs in Little Elm are 13.6% less expensive than housing costs in McKinney. 

Buyers looking to invest in a new construction home should consider several new subdivisions including Paloma Creek, Mariner Point, Knob Hill Lake, and Union Park among others. Some of the amazing features in these communities include: 

• Playgrounds 
• Private waterparks 
• Parks 
• Community clubhouses 

If you wish you could walk out to the backyard and do some fishing, Little Elm Waterfront & Lakefront Homes might be just the thing for you. 

Diversity in the age of Little Elm homes is limited as most of the boom witnessed in the area happened after 2000. 

Lake Access 

With over 66 miles of shoreline on Lake Lewisville, Little Elm residents can access more miles of shoreline than other cities in the DFW area.  

Lakefront district is home to Little Elm Park which features a sandy beach that overlooks the lake. The Park offers sand volleyball, athletic fields, hiking and biking trails, an amphitheater, a swim beach, and much more. 

The community is perfect for people who like spending time on the water fishing, boating, and sailing. The nearby DFW Surf is your go-to place if you need kayak paddle boards as well as bike rentals. 

Retail Outlets 

In recent years several retail outlets such as Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, and Starbucks have opened shop in Little Elm. More mixed-use developments are in the works including the city's first hotel in Lakefront District. 

However, Little Elm does not have major retailers within. To enjoy a shop-till-you-drop experience, you will have to drive to Stonebriar Mall in Frisco or The Shops at Legacy in Plano. 

Top-rated School Districts 

The location of Little Elm is home to 3 top-rated school districts - Little Elm ISD, Frisco ISD, and Denton ISD. In 2019, Frisco ISD was ranked in the top-tier DFW school districts. Furthermore, Frisco ISD ranks in the top third of the school districts in North Texas. 

Some of the public schools serving Little Elm include: 

• Sparks Elementary School 
• Wakeland High School 
• Pioneer Heritage Middle School 
• Frisco High School 
• Griffin Middle School 

Cons 

Traffic 

One of the major cons of living in Little Elm is the long commute times. Thanks to traffic nightmares during rush hour, the average commute to work is 35.33 minutes which is higher than the national average of 26.6 minutes. 

What's more, the constant construction activity around Little Elm also contributes to the traffic build-up in the city. 

Not Convenient to Downtown 

If you frequent downtown for work, shopping, or dining, the location of Little Elm is not convenient for such travels. It will take you approximately 1 to 1.5 hours to drive to Downtown Dallas or Fort Worth.  

For frequent travelers or vacationing, you will need to plan early to avoid being caught up in traffic. This is because Little Elm is roughly 45 minutes to 1-hour drive from the DFW International Airport. 

No Major Highways 

The lack of major highway arteries in Little Elm is one of the main reasons why traffic is a nightmare in the area. 

To reach Little Elm from the DFW airport, travelers have to go through the Colony to get there. Meanwhile, travelers coming from Downtown Dallas have to go through Frisco as no major highway or tollway links directly to Little Elm. 

Limited Dining Options 

Little Elm is not known for exceptional dining options. Besides Little Elm Craft House, Waters Edge Cafe, and Hula Hut the dining options in the area are few.  

Hula Hut is a local favorite that offers a casual waterfront restaurant with three bars featuring surfer décor and a Tex-Mex menu with Hawaiian-inspired accents. The interior of the restaurant features bamboo walls, ‘tiki torches, colorful lights and, grass-thatched bars. 

If you want a good steak or some barbecue, you will have to make the short drive to either Frisco or Plano. 

No Major Hospital 

There are no major hospitals in Little Elm. In case of emergency, it will take you roughly 20 minutes to get to a major hospital depending on how fast you drive. 

Residents have to drive to Frisco to access the Medical City of Frisco or go to Plano for the nearest Texas Health Resources hospital. 

Who Lives in Little Elm? 

Plentiful amenities, good schools, and affordable housing make Little Elm the ideal destination for families. But if you like frenetic nightlife, Little Elm may not be your ideal location. 

With a median age of 33 years, young adults in their 20s and early 30s form the majority of Little Elm's residents. With that said, the typical family has an average of 3.5 people including parents and children.  

In terms of diversity, Little Elm is ranked #8,036 on the national average, and #406 in Texas which is above the state average.  

Little Elm homeowners can expect to live next door to college-educated neighbors in predominantly single-family properties. 

Should You Move to Little Elm? 

Thanks to the rapid growth ongoing in the North Texas area, what used to be nothing more than dots on a map, are now gradually becoming bedroom communities. Little Elm is one such place and the development in the area is impressive.  

In the future, buyers may find it difficult to find properties available for less than $300,000. Once development in the area is complete, a house purchased in the low $100,000's, can only appreciate. 

The challenge is for the city’s infrastructure to keep up with the demand that is sure to follow. If you want to own a piece of Little Elm real estate, contact VIP Realty today and let us do the legwork for you.