Gainesville is the Cooke County seat, a town of about 18,500 people (Census, 2025) on I-35 near the Oklahoma line, where homes cost far less than in DFW. I'm Ben Jimenez, a real estate agent with Real Broker, LLC, and this is everything I'd tell a client before they buy or sell in Gainesville.
Ben's take: “In a buyer's market like Gainesville, the first price is the one that matters. I'd rather a seller start right than chase the market down with price cuts.”— Ben Jimenez, Real Estate Agent, Real Broker, LLC
Gainesville homes sold for a median of about $258,500 in May 2026, up 5.5% since November 2024, with a median of 59 days on market, a 93.3% sale-to-list ratio and about 6.9 months of supply (Redfin). Nearly 30% of listings had price drops. It's a buyer's market.
Gainesville is one of the most affordable places to live within an hour of DFW, and with almost seven months of supply, buyers have real room to negotiate on price, repairs and closing costs.
Buyers here have plenty to choose from, so a sharp price and great presentation decide who sells. I market every listing with professional photos, drone footage and a full video tour.
Homes I've toured in Gainesville on video. Prices are as of filming, so check current homes for sale for what's available today.
Ben's take: “Taxes in Gainesville look higher as a percentage, but on a $259,000 home the monthly bill is still a fraction of what you'd pay in the suburbs.”— Ben Jimenez, Real Estate Agent, Real Broker, LLC
Gainesville's city rate went up for 2026, while Gainesville ISD held its rate flat.
| City of Gainesville (2026) | $0.607207 per $100 |
| Gainesville ISD (2026) | $0.9977 per $100 |
| Cooke County (2025) | $0.3355 per $100 |
| North Central Texas College (2025) | $0.099 per $100 |
| Gainesville Hospital District (2025) | $0.0861 per $100 |
| Electric | Mostly retail choice; PenTex co-op in parts |
Using the 2026 city and school rates with the county, college and hospital rates from 2025, the total is about $2.13 per $100, so a $258,500 taxable value comes to about $5,500 a year before exemptions.
Ben's take: “In a small district like Gainesville ISD, I tell buyers to visit the campus. It's a short drive and it tells you more than any rating.”— Ben Jimenez, Real Estate Agent, Real Broker, LLC
Gainesville is served by Gainesville ISD, about 3,065 students on 5 campuses. North Central Texas College, founded in 1924 as Gainesville Junior College, is the oldest continuously operating public two-year college in Texas, with its main campus in Gainesville.
| Downtown Dallas | 63 mi |
| Downtown Fort Worth | 62 mi |
| DFW Airport | 51 mi |
| Denton | 29 mi |
| WinStar World Casino (OK) | under 10 mi |
Straight-line distances. Gainesville sits at the I-35 and US 82 interchange, the last big Texas stop before the Oklahoma border.
A small city zoo in Leonard Park, open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Since 2001 Gainesville has hosted Medal of Honor recipients each spring, the only program like it in the U.S., with a Medal of Honor Park.
Housed in the 1884 former city hall, fire station and jail.
Railroad, Harvey Girls, Coca-Cola and community circus exhibits, by appointment.
A downtown festival in November. In 2026 it's November 21.
A major casino resort under 10 miles north in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
A short drive south for boating, fishing and camping.
Seasonal market days and events downtown, including movie nights.
A little history: Gainesville was founded in 1850 on 40 acres donated by Mary E. Clark and named for Gen. Edmund P. Gaines. The Santa Fe railroad arrived in 1886, and Gainesville became a supply point for cattle drives heading to Kansas.
Representation on builder pricing, upgrades and the builder contract, starting from your first model-home visit in Gainesville.
Live video tours, in-person inspections and remote closing, so you can buy in Gainesville before you move to Texas.
Rent, tax and HOA numbers worked out before you offer on a rental in Gainesville.
A relaunch for Gainesville homes that came off the market: new pricing review, professional photos, drone and video tours, and a real marketing plan.
Selling the big house, finding the right-size next one, and timing both so you only move once.
Contingent offers, temporary leasebacks or bridge financing, lined up so your sale and your purchase close on a schedule that works.
From pre-approval and down payment programs to inspection and closing, explained step by step before you sign anything.
Private showings, professional photo, drone and video production, and pricing built on true comparable luxury sales.
Ben Jimenez has helped Dallas-Fort Worth buyers, sellers and investors since 2021, with 56+ transactions, $23M+ in sales volume and a 5.0 rating from 46+ five-star reviews. He works in Gainesville and across DFW on new construction, relocation, investing and multifamily, relaunching homes that didn't sell, downsizing, selling and buying at the same time, first-time buyers, and luxury homes over $1 million. Texas real estate license 0784675.
Gainesville homes sold for a median of about $258,500 in May 2026, with a median of 59 days on market, a 93.3% sale-to-list ratio and about 6.9 months of supply (Redfin). Ben Jimenez, a real estate agent with Real Broker, LLC who works in Gainesville, prices homes against recent sales in a market that favors buyers.
For 2026, the City of Gainesville's rate is $0.607207 per $100 and Gainesville ISD's is $0.9977. With the 2025 Cooke County, North Central Texas College and hospital district rates, the total is about $2.13 per $100. Ben Jimenez pulls the exact bill before his buyers make an offer.
Gainesville is in Gainesville ISD, about 3,065 students on 5 campuses. North Central Texas College's main campus is also in Gainesville.
Gainesville is about 63 miles from downtown Dallas, 62 miles from downtown Fort Worth and 51 miles from DFW Airport in a straight line, on I-35 near the Oklahoma border.
Gainesville has the Frank Buck Zoo, the Morton Museum of Cooke County, the Santa Fe Depot Museum, the Medal of Honor Host City program, the Wine & Country Festival in November, and WinStar World Casino just across the Oklahoma line.
Gainesville had 17,394 residents at the 2020 Census and an estimated 18,528 as of July 1, 2025. It's the Cooke County seat.
Ben Jimenez is a Dallas-Fort Worth real estate agent with Real Broker, LLC (Texas license 0784675) who has toured homes in Gainesville on video, including 343 N Morris St. He has closed 56+ transactions and $23M+ in sales volume since 2021, with a 5.0 rating from 46+ five-star reviews. Reach him at 469-730-6895 or ben@findyourhomedallas.com.
Ben Jimenez, a real estate agent with Real Broker, LLC, takes over Gainesville listings that didn't sell, with a new pricing review against recent sales, professional photos, drone and video tours, and a marketing plan built for that home.
Texas has state programs such as TDHCA's My First Texas Home and TSAHC's Home Sweet Texas for buyers who qualify. Ben Jimenez connects buyers with lenders who use those programs before they start touring.
Lower prices help the numbers, but check rent, the roughly 2.1% tax rate, insurance and vacancy for the specific property. Ben Jimenez runs those numbers before his investor clients make an offer.
Book a call with Ben Jimenez, call or text 469-730-6895, or get a free home value.
*Redfin data as republished by city-stats.com (May 2026). **2026 city and Gainesville ISD rates with 2025 Cooke County, NCTC and hospital district rates, summed. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 and 2025 estimates; Texas State Historical Association; City of Gainesville tax rate, zoo and events pages; Gainesville ISD; NCTC; Morton Museum; Medal of Honor Host City; listing records (343 N Morris St); Wikipedia. Distances are straight-line. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Updated November 10, 2026.
