The Safest Neighborhoods in Dallas: Your Guide on Safe Places to Live

Neighborhoods often named among the safest in and around Dallas include University Park, Highland Park, Lakewood, Preston Hollow, Lake Highlands, and Prestonwood in North Dallas. Most have their own police or paid patrols, quiet streets, and active neighborhood groups. Nearby suburbs like Coppell, Flower Mound, and Southlake are also popular.

At Firehouse Movers, we've moved families into and out of these neighborhoods since 1998. This guide explains what makes an area feel safe and profiles the Dallas neighborhoods families ask us about most. It also covers nearby suburbs and the moving day details that come with each area.

Crime numbers change from year to year and from block to block. Use this guide to build a shortlist, then check current reports for the exact address through the Dallas Police Department crime statistics dashboard, the City of Dallas Open Data portal, or the police department for the city you're considering.

What Makes a Dallas Neighborhood Feel Safe?

Crime statistics are only part of the story. When families ask us which areas feel safe, the answer usually comes down to a few traits of the streets and the people who live on them.

Dedicated Police and Fire Coverage

Some areas inside the Dallas city limits are separate municipalities with their own public safety departments. A small department covering a small town can mean quick response times and officers who know the streets well.

Neighborhood-Funded Patrols

Several Dallas neighborhood associations pay off-duty Dallas Police Department (DPD) officers to patrol in marked cars. Patrol hours usually depend on how many households take part, so it's worth asking how active a program is before you buy.

Low Cut-Through Traffic and Active Associations

Streets that don't link two main roads see fewer strangers driving through. Cul-de-sacs, curving streets, and creeks or parks along the edges all reduce through traffic. An engaged neighborhood association or homeowners association (HOA) adds another layer by running crime watch programs, sharing updates, and looking after lighting and common areas.

University Park and Highland Park (the Park Cities)

University Park and Highland Park are two independent municipalities surrounded by Dallas. Together they're known as the Park Cities. Each town runs its own public safety services. University Park has its own police and fire departments, and Highland Park operates a Department of Public Safety (DPS), where sworn officers are cross-trained for police, fire, and emergency medical calls.

The mature tree canopy is one of the first things our drivers look at here. Many streets have low limbs over the road, and a full-size moving truck can catch branches. We scout the route ahead of time, pick the approach with the most clearance, and sometimes park at a corner and carry a little farther. Street parking is tight on many blocks. See our moving pages for University Park and Highland Park.

Lakewood

Lakewood sits in East Dallas along the west side of White Rock Lake. It's known for older homes, large trees, and a strong neighborhood identity. The Lakewood Neighborhood Association runs a resident-funded crime watch program that pays off-duty DPD officers to patrol the area.

Many Lakewood homes sit above the street on sloped lots. Steep driveways mean we often park at the curb and use dollies rather than backing a loaded truck up the drive. Older homes can have narrow doorways and tight stair turns, so we measure large pieces ahead of time and take doors off their hinges when needed. See our Lakewood movers page.

Preston Hollow

Preston Hollow in North Dallas is known for large lots, mature trees, and some of the biggest homes in the city. Parts of the neighborhood have long paid for extra patrols. The Preston Hollow East Homeowners Association, for example, funds off-duty DPD patrols in marked cars. Many estates also have private gates and alarm systems.

Long driveways and gated entries change how we stage a move. We confirm gate codes and security contacts ahead of time. On estate lots, we park as close to the house as the property allows and set up a protected walkway with floor runners and door jamb covers, since long carries add up over a full day.

Lake Highlands

Lake Highlands sits northeast of White Rock Lake, and residents have a strong sense of neighborhood identity. Several neighborhood associations in the area run patrol programs. Lake Highlands Estates, for example, participates in the City of Dallas Expanded Neighborhood Patrol program, which lets neighborhoods hire off-duty DPD officers to add patrol hours.

The area has rolling hills, which is unusual for Dallas. Most homes sit on standard residential streets, so truck access is usually simple. Parked cars on both sides of narrower streets are the main hurdle, so we ask customers to save curb space in front of the house the night before.

Prestonwood in North Dallas

Prestonwood feels more like a suburb than a city neighborhood, with quick access to the Dallas North Tollway for commuters. The Prestonwood Homeowners Association manages a public improvement district (PID), a special district where property owners fund extra services. In Prestonwood's case, the PID focuses on security.

HOA rules may limit when commercial vehicles can park and for how long. Check with your HOA before moving day so the truck can stay in place until the job is done.

Other Dallas Areas Families Ask About

Safety feels different in a busy urban area than in a quiet residential one, and several other parts of Dallas come up often in our conversations with families. The M Streets area near Lower Greenville has historic homes on narrow, tree-lined streets, so plan for tight street parking and older doorways. Bluffview offers quiet, wooded streets with larger lots, and its hills and winding roads call for careful truck placement.

Uptown is known for high-rise and mid-rise living with plenty of activity. Moves there usually involve freight elevator reservations, loading dock schedules, and a Certificate of Insurance (COI), which is proof of the mover's liability coverage that many buildings require. The Bishop Arts District is walkable and lively, with a mix of older homes and newer apartments, and street parking can be hard to find on weekends. For apartment and high-rise moves, our apartment moving services cover elevator and building coordination.

How to Research Safety for a Specific Address

Neighborhood reputations help you narrow the list, but the specific address is what matters. Pull current crime reports for the exact block using city open data or the local police department. Contact the neighborhood association and ask whether a patrol program runs, which hours it covers, and how many households take part.

Visit at different times, such as a weekday evening and a weekend afternoon, and talk with a neighbor or two if you can. A short conversation in a driveway often tells you more than any ranking. Check your commute during rush hour too, since a quiet street with a stressful daily drive may not be the right fit.

Still house hunting after you arrive? Many families store their belongings while they decide. Our guide to hiring movers for a storage unit explains how that works.

Safe Dallas Suburbs Worth Considering

If you're open to living outside the city limits, several suburbs are frequent choices for families, and each has its own police department. Coppell sits close to DFW Airport and offers quiet residential streets and a small-town feel. Flower Mound offers larger lots, parks, and trails in southern Denton County, a short drive from our Lewisville base. Southlake is an upscale Tarrant County suburb that's popular with families.

Frisco is a fast-growing city with many newer master-planned communities and HOAs, and Plano is an established suburb with a mix of older neighborhoods and newer builds. Compare each city's current crime reports, schools, and commute times as you narrow the list. For more ideas, see our guide to family-friendly neighborhoods in Dallas.

Retiring or helping a parent move closer to family? Our senior downsizing guide covers moves into smaller homes and retirement communities.

Moving Day Prep for Established Dallas Neighborhoods

Established neighborhoods tend to share the same moving day hurdles: mature trees, tight streets, and HOA rules. Start by asking your city, HOA, or property manager whether a large moving truck can park on the street and for how long. Keep cars off the street in front of the house the night before, and let your neighbors know so driveways stay clear.

Look up, too. Note any low branches over the driveway and street, and tell your mover so the driver can plan an approach. Share gate codes and security contacts for gated homes, and measure tight doorways and stair turns in older houses.

Moving yourself? Our guide to what fits in a 16-foot moving truck helps you choose a truck that suits narrow streets. If your closing date moves at the last minute, read how short-notice moves work. Our Dallas movers handle these details every week, for a residential move or any of our other Texas moving services.

Dallas Moving Services and Neighborhood FAQs

Firehouse Movers provides residential moves, apartment moves, packing, and storage for families relocating into and around Dallas.

Frequently Asked Questions About Safe Dallas Neighborhoods