With two major sports arenas and two Six Flags destinations, the attractions abound here in Arlington—and so do the amenities. Arlington’s central location within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex offers access to even more resources and job opportunities, while maintaining a distinct community feel.
And beyond the big-time entertainment, there’s more down-to-earth family offerings too, like the diverse park system and the sprawling natural beauty, River Legacy Park. And with a variety of housing options, Arlington is a well-rounded environment for raising a family.
NEARBY:
Arlington is bordered by Kennedale, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and Fort Worth
Arlington Fast Facts
POPULATION
398,431
2023 U.S. Census
REAL ESTATE
$343,500
Median listing price, realtor.com
Neighborhood Gems
Arlington Mothers of Multiples: For moms of multiple children who reside in Arlington and the surrounding areas, this group offers meetings for support and education, playdates, mom’s nights out and more. amom.club
MomCo.: A faith-based group at Rush Creek Church where you’ll find support, wisdom and fellowship for women in all stages of motherhood. rushcreek.org/momco
The Mom Walk Collective of Arlington: Meet up with other mamas twice a month for a walk or a playdate. Share advice and find support this welcoming space for moms and their littles. themomwalkcollective.com
RELATED: Where to Find Mom Groups in DFW
Arlington Farmers Market: From March through November, shop this new Four Seasons market on Saturdays in the city parking lot at the corner of Front and Center Streets with dozens of vendors offering a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, handmade crafts and more. fourseasonsmarkets.com
RELATED: Farmers Markets Around DFW
AT&T Stadium: Of course it’s the iconic home to the Dallas Cowboys, but there’s more to do beyond attending a football game (though that’s definitely a bucket list experience). Here you can take a guided tour, explore the stadium’s impressive art collection and enjoy concerts by world-renowned artists. This massive stadium boasts the largest seating capacity of any NFL stadium and is one of the largest domed structures in the world. // 1 AT&T Way, Arlington; attstadium.com
Globe Life Field: Cheer on the home team, the Texas Rangers, or go behind the scenes with a ballpark tour to see exclusive areas. Known for its state-of-the-art retractable roof, the stadium also hosts concerts and other major events. // 734 Stadium Dr., Arlington; globelifefield.com
Planetarium at UT Arlington: With its immersive 60-foot dome, this planetarium lets you explore realistic night skies, distant galaxies and the solar system through diverse shows. Special events like live music under the stars and mindfulness sessions add unique experiences. // 700 Planetarium Pl., Arlington; uta.edu/planetarium
River Legacy Nature Center & Park: This nature center is a gateway to explore the 1,300-acre River Legacy Park. Inside, discover interactive exhibits and live native animal displays. Outside, walk scenic trails and try to spot birds. The center also hosts educational programs, workshops, and fun community festivals. // 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington; riverlegacy.org
Six Flags Over Texas: The original Six Flags park delivers the thrills with over a dozen roller coasters, including the Titan, the tallest coaster in the state. Beyond rides, enjoy live shows and diverse dining options and explore themed sections representing the six flags of Texas’ history. // 2201 E. Road to Six Flags St., Arlington; sixflags.com/overtexas
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor: North Texas’ largest water park, spanning 50 acres of aquatic adventures, boasts over 40 rides and attractions, from thrilling water slides like Typhoon Twister and Tsunami Surge to family-friendly areas like Hook’s Lagoon. You can relax in the million-gallon wave pool or float along the lazy river. // 1800 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington; sixflags.com/hurricaneharbortexas
RELATED: 181 Places to Go with Kids in DFW
Slick City Action Park: Here’s a unique, adrenaline-pumping experience centered around slick, indoor slides. Unlike traditional water slides, these slides require riders to use inflatable tubes and navigate slippery surfaces, offering a thrilling and unpredictable ride. // 1100 W. Arbrook Blvd., Arlington; slickcity.com
PeeknPlay: At this indoor playground kids 8 and under can explore multi-level play structures, slides, climbing areas, and interactive games designed to spark imagination and physical activity. // 4060 N. Collins St., Suite 170, Arlington; peeknplayarea.com
Cheeky Monkeys: Featuring soft play areas, slides, climbing frames, and interactive elements, this play space engages kiddos up to age 8 in physical activity and imaginative play. // 1102 W. Arbrook Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington; cheekymonkeys.us
Pump It Up: When your kids are bouncing off the walls bring them to this indoor inflatable park, brimming with enormous inflatable slides, bounce houses and obstacle courses. // 1120 Eden Rd., Suite 102, Arlington; pumpitupparty.com
Wonder 6 Playground: Designed for children 12 and younger, this indoor play space is bright and cheery and features a zipline, carousel swing, trampolines and more. The venue also hosts weekly music workshops for littles. // 2535 E. Arkansas Ln., Suite 333, Arlington; wonder6playground.com
RELATED: Indoor Play Places Around DFW
Property Tax Rate
(per $100 accessed value)
Tarrant County / Arlington ISD: 1.70%
Tarrant County / Fort Worth ISD: 1.66%
Tarrant County / Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD: 1.56%
Tarrant County / Kennedale ISD: 1.95%
Tarrant County / Mansfield ISD: 2.06%
Property taxes may vary based on location and taxing entities.
Arlington Schools
Arlington Independent School District
• 56,000+ students
• 53 elementary schools, 10 junior high schools, 13 high schools
• TEA rating: C
Fort Worth Independent School District
• 76,000+ students
• 88 elementary schools, 33 middle schools, 29 high schools
• TEA rating: D
Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
• 22,800+ students
• 21 elementary schools, 4 junior high schools, 3 high schools, 1 technical education school
• TEA rating: B
Kennedale Independent School District
• 2,850+ students
• 1 early childhood center, 2 elementary schools, 1 junior high schools, 1 high schools
• TEA rating: C
Mansfield Independent School District
• 33,600+ students
• 25 elementary schools, 8 intermediate schools, 7 middle schools, 9 high/alternate schools
• TEA rating: B
Learn more about the Texas Education Agency’s accountability rating system at tea.texas.gov.
Find more private schools and Montessori schools near you.
Mom-Approved Practitioners in Arlington
Top Family Neighborhoods
Amanda Ryan, realtor and team owner of On the Move DFW, shares four of her favorite neighborhoods for families in Arlington.
Viridian
One of Arlington’s most sought-after master-planned communities, blending nature, luxury living and family-friendly amenities, Viridian is known for its resort-style living within the Metroplex of the DFW metro. Zoned for schools in HEB ISD, it features a private lake, sandy beach and over 1,200 acres of nature and open space, including walkable trails and parks. Families enjoy community events and programming and a swim center. Learn more at realtor.com.
Interlochen
Interlochen is a well-established Arlington neighborhood known for its canal-lined homes, mature trees and festive holiday light displays. It’s a quiet retreat with a close-knit feel. You’ll find spacious homes with large yards that are walkable to schools and parks. Conveniently located close to Randol Mill Park and River Legacy Park. Learn more at realtor.com.
Fannin Farms
Offering a classic suburban feel with beautiful brick homes, tree-lined streets and a strong community vibe, Fannin Farm is ideal for growing families seeking space and convenience. Located near schools and shopping, the community has pools, parks and sidewalks and greenbelts perfect for biking and walking. Zoned to Mansfield ISD schools. Learn more at realtor.com.
Eden Road Estates
A hidden gem for families wanting a quieter, more spacious lifestyle with the perks of Arlington nearby. Homes at Eden Road Estates are well-kept and offer larger lots with room for kids to play. Zoned to Mansfield ISD, this community has less traffic, quiet streets and a slower pace. It’s minutes from parks, grocery stores and Joe Pool Lake. Learn more at realtor.com.
Arlington Mom Life
Why Janelle Pierce Calls Arlington Home
Just eight weeks after relocating her family to Arlington in 2024, Janelle Pierce, 35, welcomed her second daughter. With a new baby in a new state and no village, she formed her own community, founding the Arlington Chapter of The Mom Walk Collective, which gathers moms together at least twice a month for walks or playdates and to share stories of motherhood.
The Pierce family has found the city to be friendly and welcoming, and a convenient location for the necessities for raising kids.
“We feel like we have everything we could ever need at our fingertips.”
Janelle’s Arlington Faves
Family Fun
“Some of our favorite outings have been attending Texas Rangers games at Globe Life Field, going to River Legacy Park to play, walk and have picnic meals, and taking the 20-minute drive to the Fort Worth Zoo for a day of fun!”
Best Parks
“We love going to Veterans Park for longer walks and time on the playground. We also go to Meadowbrook Park for lots of active play on their inclusive playground equipment.”
Kid-Friendly Restaurants
“We love Twisted Root Burger Co. because of its laid-back atmosphere. We enjoy watching a game with great food and drinks at The Tipsy Oak’s outdoor seating. And we just discovered Papaya Mexican Grill, and love how friendly the staff is.”
RELATED: DFWChild’s Best for Families winners
Family-Friendly Events In & Around Arlington
Back to the Future: The Musical
Bass Performance Hall
One Small Square of the Pond
River Legacy Nature Center
Fort Worth Stockyards Easter Egg Hop
Fort Worth Stockyards
Cirque du Soleil: Echo
Under the Big Top at Lone Star Park
Children’s Health Family Night at Six Flags
Six Flags, Arlington
Spring Stampede
Karis Community
Swan Lake High Tea
The Crescent Hotel
Some Like It Hot
Bass Performance Hall
Walt Disney Animation Studios: A Decade in Concert
Will Rogers Auditorium
Log Cabin Village’s 60th Birthday Party
Log Cabin Village
Victory Over Violence Walk/Run benefiting The Women’s Center
Trinity Park Duck Pond
Bubble Run DFW
Texas Motor Speedway
DoNot Stop Half Marathon (5K/10K) – Fort Worth
Gateway Park FTW
Monty Python’s Spamalot
Bass Performance Hall
UNT One O’Clock Lab Band Spring Showcase
McDavid Studio
Storybook: Sleeping Beauty
Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU
Mommy + Me: Floral Workshop – Junior Edition
The Flower Market on 7th Street
Bill Pickett Rodeo: Texas Connection Series
Cowtown Coliseum
Hometown Half Marathon & 5K/10K – Fort Worth
Trinity Park-Shelter 3
Sean Kenney’s Nature Pop! Made with LEGO Bricks
Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Muddy Dash
Village Creek Motocross Park
Hadestown
Bass Performance Hall
Texas Monthly Taco Fest North
EpicCentral
Homemade Ice Cream
Log Cabin Village
The Notebook
Bass Performance Hall
Hamilton
Bass Performance Hall
Suffs
Bass Performance Hall
Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio
Kimbell Art Museum
Find more family fun events every day of the week at dfwchild.com/calendar.