A rural small town with ample change on the horizon
Justin is a late 19th-century farming community with an indescribable appeal. Or at least that's how local Realtor Lisa Dyer puts it. "There's just something about Justin and its charm that I've fallen in love with; it's my favorite community to sell in," Dyer says. "It's a very charming Texas town." Dyer has sold homes with TruHome Real Estate for just over six years. The town maintained a small population of under 1,000 throughout the 20th century, but as the years passed, Justin began to turn a new leaf. "A few new developments were under construction in the early 2000s, but building stopped during the recession," Dyer says. "Builder and buyer interest started back up around 2015, and there's been an increase in construction since," Dyer says. "We're going to see the population of Justin triple within the next five to 10 years, and the town is starting to embrace and make plans for the growth." In anticipation of its growth, the town laid out several goals in its 2023 Action Plan, which include expanding the park system, redeveloping the downtown area and developing industrial land uses. Through its rapid growth, Justin aims to maintain its country charm and motto of "everything a hometown should be."
A mix of post-war housing, sleek new-builds and wide-open lots
Justin's oldest homes were built around the 1960s and are mainly in the town's center. Most of these are 1,000-square-foot bungalows or 1,500-square-foot ranch styles that cost between $200,000 and $300,000. New subdivisions, like Hardeman Estates, feature contemporary and New Traditional homes built as recently as 2016. These newer homes feature over 2,000 square feet and at least four bedrooms. Timberbrook is a master-planned community with its own community pool, green spaces and playgrounds. New builds cost anywhere between $400,000 and $700,000. But Justin, at its core, is a rural community with a lot of land, and buyers often move to the town's far reaches for big lots. Many residents have 3 to 5 acres of land, but some are as big as 50 acres, which cost over $1.5 million.
Northwest High School features a robust list of extracurricular activities
The Northwest Independent School District scores an overall A-minus on Niche and serves nearly 30,000 students in Denton County. "The schools are absolutely a draw for people," Dyer says. "It's one of the fastest-growing districts in the state. They're opening a ton of new schools to keep up with the growth." Justin Elementary School has an overall B-plus on Niche, while Gene Pike Middle School has an overall A-minus. Northwest High School scores an overall B-plus on Niche. High schoolers can join various clubs, from the guitar club and Marvel club to the knitting club and student council.
Pictures at Bishop and fishing at Tally Park
A historical marker denotes Justin's significance at Bishop Park, a prominent community space bounded by Trail Creek. The park provides a creek overlook and a small walking path along a few picnic tables and grills for small gatherings. Families use the park's backdrop to capture pictures from memorable moments like prom or homecoming. Justin Community Park features a central playground and the town's only tennis courts. Athletes shoot hoops on the basketball court at Reatta Park or take the paved walking path to Reatta's small pond. Tally Park is the nearest spot in town for anglers to enjoy catch-and-release fishing.
Margaritas downtown or beers at Mule Barn
Justin has a small downtown area with a few local restaurants. The family-owned Margarita's Mexican Restaurant features various options, from brisket tacos and tamales to house specials, such as pollo rico. And the margaritas are an after-work hit. Mule Barn Sports Bar and Grill offers burgers and nightcaps. Adults enjoy beer while playing pool or listening to live music. Highway 156 has a few national favorites, like Sonic and Taco Bell. While Justin has a few convenience stores, residents mainly head 9 miles to Roanoke for shopping trips. Walmart Supercenter and Aldi provide grocery shopping options off Denton Highway.
NASCAR races at The Speedway
The Texas Motor Speedway is only 6 miles south of Justin. Locals cheer on their favorite driver during a NASCAR race or take a spin around the track for themselves at one of the Speedway's NASCAR Racing Experience events. The Speedway hosts additional events, like Motorcross races and drag racing.
Getting around Justin
Justin is a car-dependent community, and Highway 156 is the main route when heading out of town. The town is about 6 miles from the junction of Highway 114 and Interstate 35 West. Fort Worth is about 27 miles south, headed down I-35. In case of emergencies, Medical City Emergency Room at Argyle is about 8 miles from downtown Justin. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is about 23 miles away.
Photography Contributed By
Christopher Saint Germain
