A peaceful, rural lifestyle in Whitewright
Whitewright extends from downtown houses with chickens in the yard to 30-acre ranches in the countryside. This small Texas community attracts people who seek land free from restrictions and who don’t mind living far from the city. Residents drive 20 miles to Sherman or Denison for their shopping and, oftentimes, their jobs. However, the existence of Whitewright Independent School District means children don’t have to leave the community to go to school.
Relaxed living from downtown to the countryside
The community consists of the city of Whitewright, as well as the unincorporated areas of Grayson County that surround it. “The downtown is two streets, and everybody knows everybody,” says Diana Gomez, a Realtor with eXp Realty who has multiple listings in Whitewright. “But outside the main town, there is a lot of land, and people can have beautiful ranches or live in house with 1 to 5 acres.” The availability of land is one of the top draws to Whitewright, Gomez adds. New homes built by local builders occasionally pop up. “You won’t see a Lennar or D.R. Horton. Whitewright hasn’t seen that yet,” Gomez says.
The cost of homes, taxes and more
Homes with less than 2 acres of land typically sell from the low $200,000s to the low $400,000s. Houses on 2 to 10 acres cost sell from the low $400,000s to the mid-$800,000s, while properties with 10-plus acres are likely to sell between the high $700,000s and $1.3 million.
The western side of Whitewright is in Grayson County, while the eastern side extends into Fannin County. Fannin County residents pay a slightly higher property tax rate than those in Grayson County. People in the Whitewright city limits pay both city and county property taxes. Homebuyers are unlikely to encounter HOA fees in Whitewright.
Whitewright Independent School District school ratings
The Whitewright Independent School District is made up of three highly rated schools: Whitewright Elementary School, Whitewright Middle School and Whitewright High School. In 2024, the Department of Education named Whitewright Middle a National Blue Ribbon School, a program that recognizes top schools nationwide.
A city center with restaurants, stores and chickens
A few restaurants operate out of the downtown storefronts that fill two blocks along West Grand Street. “Even in the downtown, you’ll see chickens around,” Gomez says. “There are no restrictions there.” The Loft Tavern serves pizza and hosts live music every weekend. There are Dollar General and Spring Market grocery store in Whitewright. A bigger selection of retailers is 20 miles away in Sherman, home to Target, Walmart, Bright’s Ace Hardware Sherman and more.
Parks, entertainment and events
Whitewright has several amenities and activities for residents of various ages:
- Mayor Bill Goodson Children’s Park: Public green space with a shaded playground and a skate park
- Whitewright Youth Sports: Kids leagues for baseball, softball, volleyball and other sports
- The Odeum Theater: A 1914 theater that screens movies and hosts concerts
- Whitewright Truck and Tractor Pull: An annual June competition where dozens of vehicles compete pulling sleds down a dirt track
Commuting to nearby employment hubs
Manufacturers employ some people in Whitewright, and there are two larger employer hubs less than 30 miles away. Sherman hosts a Tyson Foods production facility and a Texas Instruments semiconductor fabrication plant, while Raytheon employs more than 1,000 people in McKinney. Several highways, including U.S. Route 69, pass through the car-dependent community. Locals can book rides through the Texoma Area Paratransit System, a point-to-point shuttle service operating in Clay, Cooke, Fannin, Grayson, Montague and Wise counties.
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Written By
Alex Soderstrom
