Westlake, a small but very wealthy corner of North Texas, now sits at the top of a statewide list of the most expensive home markets in Texas, with the typical property valued at just over $3.1 million. The new ranking puts a spotlight on ritzy suburbs around Dallas-Fort Worth and exclusive pockets outside Austin, underscoring how far the high end of Texas real estate has pulled away from the typical U.S. home at a time when mortgage costs remain stubbornly high.
Westlake Leads The Pack
According to Stacker, Westlake ranked No. 1 with a typical home value of about $3.15 million. Trailing it are Highland Park, Westover Hills, University Park, and Rollingwood, all long associated with luxury listings and legacy money.
Stacker built its list using Zillow’s Home Values Index data from May to compare typical home values across Texas cities. Local outlets, including KVIA, highlighted the ranking this week, giving the pricey pockets an extra moment in the spotlight.
ZHVI: The Data Behind The Ranking
Zillow’s Home Values Index, or ZHVI, is a smoothed measure of what the company calls a market’s “typical” home value. In its May market report, Zillow put the typical U.S. home at $368,720, a far cry from Westlake’s multimillion-dollar norm.
Zillow explains that ZHVI blends actual sale prices and its Zestimate valuations across different housing types. The idea is to create a consistent gauge that can be compared month to month and across markets, which is what allows Stacker to spin a statewide ranking out of the May 2026 snapshot.
Rates Make Expensive Homes Harder To Reach
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.52% for the week ending June 11, according to Freddie Mac. That kind of rate keeps borrowing costs well above the rock-bottom levels buyers grew used to earlier in the decade…