Your Expert Guide

Aledo: Where athletics and education keep small-town values alive

There are so many great places to live in 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

Sprawling estates in a variety of styles populate Aledo.

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Located just west of Fort Worth, Aledo offers easy big-city proximity within a community that still feels like a small town.

Top-producing real estate agent Amber Sustala has lived in Aledo since 1992, and her husband his whole life, and she says the area prioritizes four things: family, community, sports, and academics.

"Once my growing family firmly set its roots here, I wanted the opportunity to help others find their home in the community that I am passionate about," she says. "What drew us here is the perfect blend of amenities near Fort Worth combined with a commitment to preserving Aledo's small-town roots, even as the area rapidly grows."

Known as "Titletown, Texas," Aledo is home to the Aledo High School Bearcats and is celebrated for its outstanding athletics, particularly football, as well as its excellent schools.

"The people who live here typically came because they wanted a little bit more space and nice newer homes with a country vibe, but to still be so close to the city and work," Sustala explains. "You're definitely surrounded by highly successful and driven people, but people who want to find the best of both worlds: a great mix of wholesome lifestyle and focused achievement for the future."

Sustala, who is ranked the No. 1 agent in transactions and volume in the area by RealTrends Verified, offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in Aledo. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Press Cafe takes Sustala's top spot for the best patio meeting spot, day or night, with excellent food and chic cocktails.

"When I think of Jake's Burgers, I basically hear the theme song from Cheers: 'Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came...'" laughs Sustala. "Jake's also has an incredible outdoor greenspace and large patio. It's like Cheers for the whole family."

Dayne's Craft Barbeque serves up some of the best barbecue in the country, according to Sustala, but it's so good you've got to be quick before it sells out!

Where to play
"The Walsh Community is a great place for people looking for outdoor amenities, with multiple parks and playgrounds, walking and biking trails, a community pool and gym, and tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, plus a lake with a beach and dock and the option to go fishing and paddleboarding," says Sustala.

What to see
This is Bearcat Country, especially on Friday nights at the Aledo High School Stadium, or a game is always being played at Aledo Athletics, Inc. Baseball Fields.

"This community supports shopping local at its many boutiques, such as The Paisley Heart, Byrd Mill, Kirk and Vess, and Two Sisters Teahouse," Sustala says.

There's also plenty of shopping and entertainment to be found at The Shops at Willow Park and the newly opened The District at Willow Park, which hosts musical acts on its open-air Lucchese Stage.

Where to live
Here, you'll find sprawling estates in a variety of styles, from modern farmhouses to Austin stone ranch homes. Newer built homes are generally located in sought-after neighborhoods like Parks of Aledo or Walsh.

"There are many new neighborhoods that you may not know about that offer the opportunity for new builds or custom homes that will fit your lifestyle, whether it is land, amenities, or budget," says Sustala.

Sustala recently assisted the buyer of 4400 E. Bankhead Hwy., the largest residential land sale in Aledo ISD for 2024. Set on a sprawling 30 acres, the gorgeous home was complemented by a barn, pastures, a pond, and abundant trees.

Sustala also notes that Tiger Wood's new Bluejack Ranch is currently in development, bringing with it an 18-hole golf course as part of a 914-acre community and entertainment park. "It's going to change the landscape of Aledo," she predicts.

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Amber Sustala lives, works, and plays in Aledo. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email amberknowsaledo@gmail.com, or call 817-713-0011.

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Elite address

One Texas community makes list of the richest small towns in America

Photo courtesy of Compass

Bunker Hill Village is a coveted address in the Houston area.

An upscale community in Texas is among the top 10 richest towns in America, according to a new 2024 report. The community is Bunker Hill Village in Houston, and it's home to the richest residents in Texas. Sorry, Colonial Hills.

The analysis, by loan provider TitleMax, lists the 50 richest small towns — one from each state — using median household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In Bunker Hill Village, the median household income is about $250,000, the report says.

Of course, "small town" is a bit of a misnomer for Bunker Hill Village. Situated 13 miles west of downtown Houston, Bunker Hill joins five other communities – Hunters Creek, HiIlshire, Hedwig, Piney Point, and Spring Valley – to make up Houston's iconic Memorial Villages. In 2023, Bunker Hill was ranked the third-most expensive Houston neighborhood, with homes on the market for upwards of $2.7 million.

Notably, the area is home to Houston's only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house.

"We are very proud of our quiet, wooded environment, and as a community, we work hard to preserve it for future generations," the city's website says.

The study found that more than half (56.5 percent) of the 1,250-home community make over $200,000 a year, while the enclave's median household income amounts to $247,188.

To put that into perspective, TitleMax revealed that the national median household income is $67,521. The Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey estimates the median income of a household in Texas came out to $75,780 in 2023.

Bunker Hill joins the likes of Houston's Bellaire and West University Place as some of the most affluent suburbs in America. The North Texas suburb of Southlake also made it on that list.

The No. 1 slot went to Monte Sereno, a suburb of San Jose, California with a median household income of more than $250,000, according to the report.

"While many people consider cities to be the epicenters of the rich, many retreat to small towns that offer safety, beauty, and privacy," the report's author wrote.

These are the top 10 wealthiest small towns in America, with their median household incomes:

No. 1 – Monte Sereno, California ($250,000-plus)
No. 2 – Cherry Hills Village, Colorado ($250,000-plus)
No. 3 – Mission Hills, Kansas ($250,000-plus)
No. 4 – Short Hills, New Jersey ($250,000-plus)
No. 5 – Scarsdale, New York ($250,000-plus)
No. 6 – Belle Meade, Tennessee ($250,000-plus)
No. 7 – Glencoe, Illinois ($248,851)
No. 8 – Bunker Hill Village, Texas ($247,188)
No. 9 – Clyde Hill, Washington ($238,958)
No. 10 – Chevy Chase Village, Maryland ($238,333)

The full report can be found on titlemax.com.

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