Your Expert Guide

Aledo: A Texas small town with room to grow — and room to roam

There are so many great places to live in Dallas-Fort Worth that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

610 River Ranch Rd. is currently one of the most expensive listings in Aledo.

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Long before Clayton Patterson was guiding buyers through ranch estates and luxury homes west of Fort Worth, he rode bulls and hand-made custom hats.

These days, that background suits him well in Aledo, the fast-growing Parker County town he has called home for the past five years. "What drew us here was the future growth, the great schools, and the community for young families," says Patterson, a real estate agent with Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty. He found the same qualities drew his business to the area: like-minded people, a strong community of young families, and the chance to do what he loves most: "helping people transition out of living in the city and find a piece of rural luxury."

What he loves about Aledo is that it "embodies the quintessential Texas small-town lifestyle while offering the space, luxury, and convenience of a much larger community." Here, Friday Night Lights are the real deal, with a renowned high school athletics program — the Aledo Bearcats boast a dozen state football championships, the most of any high school in Texas — and homes at virtually every price point, from family-friendly neighborhoods to 10-plus-acre farm-and-ranch properties. All of it sits just minutes from Fort Worth.

Patterson offered up a few of his personal favorites about life in Aledo. Here's his guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Dayne's Craft Barbecue is Aledo's crown jewel. "It's rare you have some of the best and most sought-after food in the entire state right here in your backyard," Patterson says. What started as a backyard barbecue operation grew into one of the best barbecue destinations in Texas, earning the No. 7 spot on Texas Monthly's 2025 list of the state's best barbecue joints and drawing smoked meat devotees from all over DFW and beyond.

For a sit-down favorite, Press Cafe — one of Patterson's go-to restaurants in Fort Worth — now has a location in the heart of Aledo, from celebrated chef Felipe Armenta. "A great atmosphere and wonderful food and drinks," he says.

Where to play
"There are lots of parks to take your kids — Bearcat Park is a favorite and often visited with my family," Patterson says. On Friday nights, the whole town gathers for Bearcat football.

Golfers can play Squaw Creek, a great public golf course just down the road in neighboring Willow Park. And for hiking and mountain biking, the Parks of Aledo neighborhood is built around tens of miles of trails that are open to the public.

Where to live
What makes Aledo's housing market unique, Patterson says, is that "buyers don't have to choose between community, luxury, privacy, or land."

For a strong sense of community in the $500,000–$1 million range, Parks of Aledo is a standout. It's located in the heart of town and within walking distance of Aledo High School, with abundant parks, green space, and an extensive trail network mentioned above.

For more space and luxury, La Madera is a gated community of beautiful custom homes on two- to five-acre lots, generally in the $1 million–$3 million range. "Set among rolling hills with incredible views, La Madera offers a peaceful country setting while bringing together families and residents of all ages," he says.

Beyond those established communities, Aledo hides an impressive selection of estates and private properties tucked into the countryside, from secluded luxury homes on expansive acreage to smaller working ranches where owners can keep horses, cattle, and barns and truly embrace the Texas ranch lifestyle. Some sit within private or community-oriented developments; others offer acreage living with no HOA at all.

The newest chapter is Bluejack Ranch, a 914-acre private club and residential community with a golf course designed by Tiger Woods' TGR Design, opening soon. "It will offer something Aledo has long needed: a true destination where residents can live, play, golf, and enjoy elevated country-club amenities without leaving their community," Patterson says.

A prime example of the lifestyle is 610 River Ranch Rd., currently one of the most expensive listings on the market in the area at $4.65 million. Patterson also has 13 acres listed next door at 400 River Ranch Rd. — "a truly rare offering for the area due to the size and location," he says.

"Whether you're looking for a walkable neighborhood for your family, a custom estate with breathtaking views, or a ranch where you can spread out and enjoy the outdoors, Aledo offers a distinctive style of Texas living that is increasingly difficult to find so close to Fort Worth," Patterson says.

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Clayton Patterson lives, works, and plays in Aledo. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email cpatterson@briggsfreeman.com, or call 979-450-5465. Follow him on Instagram @clay_patterson.

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living single

Fort Worth ranks among 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living solo

City of Fort Worth / Facebook

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Not everyone is cut out for living with roommates, but finding an affordable place to live alone can be tricky. Luckily, Dallas-Fort Worth sits among the top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living by yourself, according to a new report.

Analysts at Apartments.com discovered North Texas renters spend the seventh lowest share of their monthly income on single-bedroom rent out of the 50 biggest metros in the U.S.

The study used a 30 percent "common budgeting guideline" to calculate the share of median renter household income spent on one-bedroom asking rents across the 50 largest U.S. metros, and determined renters can only afford to live alone in 24 of the 50 metros without crossing the 30 percent threshold.

The median annual income of a DFW renter household is $63,172, and the findings show the typical asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment comes out to $1,348 per month. The study determined single renters spend 25.6 percent of their monthly income on rent based on the budgeting suggestion.

Texas' favorable rental market also extends outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex: Austin surprised as the No. 1 most affordable metro for living alone, and San Antonio appeared among the top 10.

Austin renters spend the smallest share of their income on single-bedroom apartment rent, at 23.1 percent. That's based on a median renter household income of $70,008 and a $1,348 monthly one-bedroom asking rent price.

Dwindling rent prices and the prevalence of major tech employers are also attracting new renters, and the city has an 11.6 percent apartment vacancy rate.

"The average rent in Austin has decreased year over year, and construction of new housing increased by 30 percent over the past decade," the report's author wrote. "Tax incentives in Texas draw large tech corporations, like Google and Apple, to the Austin area, which has increased average wages, added more jobs to the local economy, and attracted renters in the process."

San Antonio ranked right above DFW in sixth place nationwide with solo renters spending 25.4 percent of their monthly income on single-bedroom rent, coincidentally the same share as single renters living in Raleigh, North Carolina and Salt Lake City, Utah.

This is the income and one-bedroom rent data in San Antonio:

$51,029 – median renter household income
$1,082 – one-bedroom monthly asking rent

A separate Apartments.com survey found 39 percent of U.S. adults would never feel comfortable living with a roommate, and 16 percent of renters would rather pay more in rent to live alone than consider living with a roommate.

"Factors contributing to lower rents may include recent high levels of construction, rising vacancy rates as renter demand catches up to supply, and fewer regulations, such as flexible zoning and lower development costs compared to other parts of the country," the report said. "Living alone has become a non-negotiable for many renters, and some renters are willing to make tradeoffs to afford this lifestyle."

The top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living alone are:

No. 1 – Austin
No. 2 – Oklahoma City
No. 3 – Phoenix
No. 4 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 5 – Salt Lake City, Utah
No. 6 – San Antonio
No. 7 – Dallas-Fort Worth
No. 8 – Denver
No. 9 – Portland, Oregon
No. 10 – Columbus, Ohio

real estate rent rent prices apartments affordability reports

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living single

Fort Worth ranks among 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living solo