# Apartment Locator North Dallas | Free, Prices Checked Weekly
> Apartment locator for North Dallas, where Dallas ISD and Richardson ISD split the area and tolls add up. We note both on your list. Free to renters.
URL: https://apartmentlocatordallas.com/neighborhoods/north-dallas/
# North Dallas Apartment Locator: Tollway Midrises, Coit Road Gardens, Owner Condos
North Dallas stretches from NorthPark up to the Galleria, between the Dallas North Tollway and Central Expressway. Older garden complexes line Coit, Hillcrest and Forest Lane, newer midrises sit along the Tollway, and condos leased by their owners cluster around Preston Road and LBJ. Dallas ISD and Richardson ISD both serve parts of it, and a daily toll commute north adds a cost the rent never shows.
## North Dallas apartments by size this week
We checked 47 places in North Dallas on November 6, 2026. Prices count any firm free rent, spread over the lease, and are before fees.
- Studio: $1,133 a month typical, from $755, 18 places with one available, 11 with a special
- 1 Bedroom: $1,107 a month typical, from $715, 44 places with one available, 17 with a special
- 2 Bedroom: $1,513 a month typical, from $1,051, 47 places with one available, 19 with a special
- 3 Bedroom: $2,267 a month typical, from $1,405, 12 places with one available, 4 with a special
- 4 Bedroom: from $5,980, 1 places with one available, 0 with a special
## North Dallas rents this week
We check these numbers every week. Updated November 6, 2026. Where a place has a firm move-in special, its rent counts the free rent spread evenly over the lease. Rents are before fees. 47 communities in North Dallas had homes available; 19 listed a move-in special. Method: https://apartmentlocatordallas.com/rent-data-methodology/
Our read this week: Newer buildings here cost about $253 more a month than middle age ones, even after their free rent ($1,415 vs. $1,162 for a 1 bedroom). If price matters most, start with the older buildings. 2 buildings here are brand new or still opening, and 1 of them has a move-in special right now. New buildings have to fill up fast, so they usually give the biggest deals. You get more space for your money with a 2 bedroom here: about $1.50 a square foot, compared with $1.75 for a 1 bedroom.
| Size | Communities with available apartments | Lowest rent | Middle half | Typical starting rent | Typical $/sq ft | Since November 1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Studio | 18 | $755 | $1,011 to $1,253 | $1,133 | $2.01 | no change |
| 1 bed | 44 | $715 | $876 to $1,327 | $1,107 | $1.75 | down $11 |
| 2 bed | 47 | $1,051 | $1,288 to $1,695 | $1,513 | $1.50 | up $10 |
| 3 bed | 12 | $1,405 | $1,769 to $2,707 | $2,267 | $1.62 | no change |
| 4 bed | 1 | $5,980 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Building class | Communities | Typical 1 bed | $/sq ft | With a special | Typical weeks free |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Newer (Class A) | 13 | $1,415 | $2.09 | 62% | 4 |
| Middle (Class B) | 14 | $1,162 | $1.60 | 36% | 4 |
| Older (Class C) | 20 | $891 | $1.46 | 30% | 4 |
- Cheapest 1 bedroom here: 1 bed listed from $780 (515 sq ft), Class C. Special: 1 Month Free. About $715/mo net effective over a 12 month lease
- Cheapest 2 bedroom here: 2 bed listed from $1,073 (840 sq ft), Class C
- Cheapest studio here: Studio listed from $849 (420 sq ft), Class C
- Cheapest 3 bedroom here: 3 bed listed from $2,021 (1550 sq ft), Class B. Special: 6 Weeks Free (48 Hour Look and Lease) + $99 App & Admin
- Most free rent here: Studio listed from $1,186 (496 sq ft), Class A. Special: 1 Month Free. About $1,087/mo net effective over a 12 month lease
Rents are the lowest listed price for an available apartment of each size in our weekly check. We leave out income restricted, tax credit, 55+ and student communities. Prices can change any day, so get the final price in writing from the building before you apply.
## Areas we cover inside North Dallas
- **Coit Road**: Coit Road heads north from Forest Lane past LBJ, with Medical City Dallas near the Forest Lane end. Older garden complexes and strip centers line much of it, and both I-635 and US-75 are close.
- **Hillcrest Road**: Hillcrest Road runs north from SMU's campus past Northwest Highway, Royal Lane and Forest Lane into far North Dallas. Houses line most of it, with condos and smaller apartment buildings near Forest and LBJ.
- **Preston Road**: Preston Road is North Dallas's main road north and south, with Preston Royal and Preston Forest shopping centers at two of its big intersections. Large homes line most of it, and apartments and condos cluster closer to LBJ and the Tollway.
- **Forest Lane**: Forest Lane runs east to west across North Dallas from the Tollway to US-75 and beyond, past Medical City Dallas. It has some of the area's thickest rows of 1960s to 1980s apartment complexes, especially east of Preston.
- **Royal Lane**: Royal Lane crosses North Dallas between Walnut Hill and Forest, from I-35E past the Tollway to US-75. The Royal Lane DART station sits on the west end, and the mix shifts from estate homes near Preston to apartments farther west.
- **Midway Road**: Midway Road runs north from Love Field through North Dallas to Addison and Carrollton. Near Royal and Forest it's mostly houses, with more apartments and small offices as you approach LBJ and Valley View.
- **Spring Valley**: Spring Valley Road runs along the north side of LBJ near the Richardson line, with the Spring Valley DART station near US-75. Expect a lot of older and some newer apartment complexes along it, with both freeways close.
- **LBJ/Central Corridor**: The I-635 and US-75 interchange anchors this stretch, with the LBJ/Central DART station, office towers and Texas Instruments' campus nearby. Apartments here range from 1970s garden complexes to newer midsize buildings, and freeway noise is part of the deal.
## North Dallas Apartments and the Toll Costs to Plan For
- We add Tollway and Bush Turnpike costs to the monthly total for anyone working in Plano, Frisco or Allen
- We ask whether a unit is a condo or an apartment before you apply, since condos add an HOA review and their own pet limits
- Complexes on Coit and Forest where a manager reads a tough file, since Preston Road buildings rarely make exceptions
- We ask about long running specials at the newer Tollway buildings, to see if they're already in the quote
## Tollway, DART, and Monthly Commute Costs
Two parallel roads shape the area, and they work nothing alike. Central Expressway runs the east side with the only rail here: Park Lane, Walnut Hill, Forest Lane and LBJ/Central stations on the Red and Orange lines. The Dallas North Tollway runs the west side with no rail, but it's the quicker drive between NorthPark and the Galleria. They sit about three miles apart, and rents shift between them.
LBJ crosses the north edge, and the Bush Turnpike runs farther north. A daily trip toward Plano, Allen or Frisco on the Tollway and the Turnpike adds a real monthly bill. Price your route on [NTTA's toll calculator](https://www.ntta.org/toll-calculator) and count it with the rent.
LBJ's toll lanes and frontage roads make some entrances hard to reach. The LBJ and Central junction jams both ways at rush hour, with traffic headed to Texas Instruments and the Telecom Corridor. Drive the frontage road to a building once before you sign.
## Gardens, Midrises and Condos Side by Side
There are three kinds of rentals here, each with its own prices and approval rules. The older garden complexes on Coit, Hillcrest and Forest are the best value: larger units, open parking lots, and managers who make real calls on applications. A credit problem can work here when it usually won't on Preston Road.
Newer midrises along the Tollway, many run by large management companies, screen by computer and add the usual community fees for amenities, reserved parking and package lockers. Some have had a special since they opened. Ask whether it's already in the quoted price and whether you'd pay it back if you leave early.
Around Preston and LBJ, many units are condos that individual owners lease out. HOA rules change by building and may set lease minimums, pet weight limits or a board review after the owner approves you. Older complexes may divide the water bill among residents, so ask what that ran last year.
## Everyday North Dallas
North Dallas is a big stretch of older neighborhoods and shopping centers between the Tollway and US-75. Errands are quick, the Red Line runs up the east side, and LBJ traffic shapes most commutes.
### Red Line, Tollway and LBJ
On the east edge, Red Line trains stop at Forest Lane and at LBJ/Central, close to US-75. Most of North Dallas drives, with the Dallas North Tollway on the west side and LBJ Freeway (I-635) across the top. At 8am, we time the drive at about 21 minutes to Legacy West, 24 to the Medical District, 26 to Downtown Dallas and 28 to DFW Airport.
- **Forest Lane Station** (rail station): Ride the Red Line south to downtown or north to Richardson and Plano, and skip the US-75 traffic.
- **LBJ/Central Station** (rail station): A handy stop for the office towers near US-75 and I-635, a short walk from the platform.
### Neighborhood parks and the creek trail
Valley View Park and Churchill Park are the nearest green spaces, both near the center of the area, and Anderson Bonner Park is close by too. Fretz Park on Hillcrest Road is a short drive north. On the east side, the White Rock Creek Trail heads south toward White Rock Lake for a long run or bike ride.
- **Valley View Park** (park): Walk the paths on a weekday evening, a short trip from most homes in this part of the city.
- **White Rock Creek Trail** (trail): Start early on a weekend and ride or run south along the creek toward White Rock Lake.
- **Churchill Park** (park): Toss a ball or walk the dog on a quiet weeknight in this small neighborhood park.
### Where North Dallas eats
Most dinners here happen in the big shopping centers on Preston Road and along LBJ, not on a single strip. Cindi's NY Deli & Restaurant and Royal China Restaurant are old favorites. Al Biernat's North is the steakhouse for a big night, and Maple Leaf Diner draws weekend breakfast crowds. For tacos and Turkish food, Chilangos Tacos and Selda Mediterranean are the casual picks.
- **Cindi's NY Deli & Restaurant** (deli): Go for a big deli breakfast on a weekend or a sandwich at lunch on a workday.
- **Royal China Restaurant** (Chinese): A North Dallas standby for a Chinese dinner with a group; weekend nights get busy, so call ahead.
- **Al Biernat's North** (steakhouse): Save it for an anniversary or a client dinner; reserve a few days early for a Friday or Saturday.
- **Maple Leaf Diner** (breakfast): Get there early on Saturday for a diner breakfast before the wait gets long.
- **Chilangos Tacos** (tacos): Grab tacos for a quick lunch or a late weeknight bite, close to most of North Dallas.
### Groceries and the shopping centers
Preston Forest and Preston Valley shopping centers on Preston Road carry most weekly runs, with groceries and errands in one lot, and the Market at Preston Forest is close by. Trader Joe's, ALDI and Tom Thumb all sit within about 2.5 miles, and El Rancho Supermercado and Fiesta Mart stock Latin American groceries. Meadow Central Market adds more choice on the east side.
- **Preston Forest Shopping Center** (shopping center): Do the weekly run and grab lunch in one stop at Preston Road and Forest Lane.
- **Preston Valley Shopping Center** (shopping center): A nearby stop for groceries and errands near LBJ, easy to reach from the Tollway.
### Ice skating, art shows and game rooms
Galleria Dallas, at the north edge by LBJ and the Tollway, has an ice rink inside the mall. Each holiday season a giant Christmas tree goes up in the middle of it. Just over the Richardson line, Cottonwood Park hosts the Cottonwood Art Festival each spring and fall. On a rainy day, Game Show Battle Rooms is just over the line on Alpha Road in Farmers Branch.
- **Galleria Dallas** (mall): Skate the indoor rink on a weekday, or come in late November to see the giant tree on the ice.
- **Cottonwood Park** (park): Walk the art festival booths in early May or early October, then picnic under the trees.
- **Game Show Battle Rooms** (game rooms): Book a room with friends on a rainy night and play game show rounds against each other.
### What we tell renters looking in North Dallas
If you plan to ride DART, check the walk to Forest Lane or LBJ/Central from the exact address, since much of North Dallas sits miles west of the line. Holiday weekends bring heavy traffic around the Galleria and the Tollway at LBJ, so plan errands for weekday mornings in December. A home right off LBJ makes for a fast commute, but it can be loud (visit at rush hour to hear it for yourself).
## North Dallas questions
### Which school district serves a North Dallas address?
Dallas ISD and Richardson ISD both serve parts of the area, and two addresses a mile apart can fall on different sides. Use the district's boundary tool with the exact street address.
### What will tolls add if I commute north?
That comes down to your route and how many days a week you drive it. Run your trip through [NTTA's toll calculator](https://www.ntta.org/toll-calculator), multiply by your workdays, and compare a Tollway building with one on Coit that way.
### Is a Preston Road rental likely a condo?
Around Preston and LBJ, often yes. Condos leased by owners need HOA approval after the owner signs off, and the rules change by building, so we ask which kind a unit is before you apply.
### Where are the cheaper apartments in North Dallas?
The older garden complexes on Coit, Hillcrest and Forest Lane, with bigger units than the newer Tollway buildings. Ask whether the building splits the water bill so you can add that charge. The median North Dallas one bedroom is $1,107 this week, and the cheapest open one is $715 once the specials are spread out.
### Is there a North Dallas apartment locator who knows both corridors?
Yes. We keep tabs on the area from NorthPark to the Galleria, from the Coit Road gardens to the newer Tollway buildings and the condos near Preston and LBJ. We'll note tolls and the school district line on your list.
## Near North Dallas
- [Vickery Meadow](/neighborhoods/vickery-meadow/): Park Lane · Abrams Road · Greenville Avenue
- [Lake Highlands](/neighborhoods/lake-highlands/): Skillman Corridor · Audelia Road · Ferndale
- [Richardson](/neighborhoods/richardson/): Telecom Corridor · CityLine · Canyon Creek
## Looking in North Dallas?
Tell us where you work and your top rent, and we'll compare a Tollway midrise with a Coit Road garden, tolls included. For more, read about [monthly cost with tolls](/true-monthly-cost/), [credit flexibility](/bad-credit-accepted/) and [relocating to Dallas](/corporate-relocation/).
Free to renters · No credit pull · Brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, TREC #562021
[Get my list](https://apartmentlocatordallas.com/get-my-list/)