Growth & Development

Ellis County is growing fast as DFW expands southward

Ellis County sits about 30 miles south of Dallas on I-35E. Its northern cities have grown fast as the DFW metro pushes south.

Ellis County Home & Property

Ellis County lies directly south of Dallas on Interstate 35E. Cities like Red Oak, Midlothian, and Waxahachie have grown fast. People move here for lower land costs while still being able to commute to Dallas and Fort Worth.

This growth has pushed rural land values up sharply near the northern part of the county. Higher values affect property appraisals and can put some ag-exempt land up for re-evaluation. It also means more MUDs (special taxing districts), new subdivisions, and shifting ETJ boundaries. A quiet rural road from ten years ago may now sit inside a fast-growing city's ETJ.

Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook of Texas — Ellis County

More Ellis County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two different offices handle your property tax in Ellis County

The Ellis County Appraisal District sets your property value, but a separate Tax Assessor-Collector office sends the bill and collects the money.

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Homestead Exemption

File a homestead exemption to lower your property tax bill

Texas law lets homeowners who live in their home claim a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of the property.

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Ag Valuation

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on productivity, not market value

In Ellis County, qualifying farm or ranch land is taxed on what it can produce, not what it could sell for. That can cut the tax bill by a lot.

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Vehicle Registration

Ellis County vehicles need an emissions test every year

Ellis County is in the DFW area, so most gas-powered vehicles must pass an emissions test every year before the owner can renew registration.

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