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City life is exciting and busy and Fort Worth is no exception. The formerly sleepy town is growing and developing its central core and is now a hotspot for top restaurants and vibrant nightlife. But Fort Worth is “where the West begins” and you don’t have to be a cowboy to enjoy having a plot of land.

The area has tons of available space where you can spread out and get a little homestead of your own. The suburbs of Fort Worth don’t yet have public transportation, so you’ll have to drive most places you go. If you work downtown and want easy access to the amenities of the city, but also want a quieter retreat at the end of the day, then the suburbs just might be for you. Here are some of the nearby suburban cities with easy commutes to Fort Worth.

Photo by 1985Publius / CC BY-SA

Keller

Keller is a popular and fast-growing community. Located just a few miles east of I-35 West, Keller is known for good schools and even better amenities. The Keller Independent School District is the ninth fastest-growing district in Texas, doubling its attendance in the past ten years and expected to do the same in the next ten years. The city offers lots of recreational opportunities for residents, like The Keller Pointe Recreation Center. Even though it’s a smaller town compared to Fort Worth, Keller is a clean, bustling suburb that continues to attract new residents every year.

Roanoke

The rustic, country roots of historic Roanoke are still evident today. Dubbed the “Unique Dining Capital of Texas,” there’s a great variety of restaurants and entertainment options. State Highway 114 is the main route that provides access to Dallas or Fort Worth. The business route for Highway 114 is also called Byron Nelson Boulevard, the famous golfer who also has a local high school named after him. The city’s Oak Street, which acts as Roanoke’s downtown area, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo by Aacher / CC BY-SA

Mansfield

Mansfield, located between Arlington and Fort Worth, has seen astronomical growth in recent years, doubling its population since 2000. Home to a friendly mix of people, this town has ranked in CNN/Money magazine’s list of “Best Places to Live” four times since 2007. While you’ll find all the shopping you could want in Mansfield, there are also lots of wide-open green spaces too. Spend a day hiking the trails at the Elmer Oliver Park, cooling off at the Hawaiian Falls water park, or learning about the history of the area at the Mansfield Historical Museum and Heritage Center. Even though it’s fast growing and busier than it used to be, Mansfield still feels like a small-town retreat from city life.

Burleson

Want to really get away from city life? Then head south of Fort Worth, where you’ll find the city of Burleson, which is located in both Tarrant County and Johnson County. Even though Burleson is just 17 miles from Downtown Fort Worth, it has the slower pace of life that gives it a completely different vibe. There’s still plenty to keep everyone busy in Burleson, from the Pirates Cove Fun Zone and Bicentennial Park to the Lost Oak Winery and Burleson Antique Mall.

Photo by Daniel Case / CC BY-SA

Bedford

Bedford is perennially popular and for a good reason: the location simply can’t be beat. With easy access to both Fort Worth and Dallas via Highway 183, living here is the literal middle ground between the two metropolises. Bedford has top-rated schools in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford (HEB) Independent School District. There’s a good mix of condos and houses as well, so there’s something for everyone. A more established suburb, Bedford has fewer new construction homes than other nearby suburbs. That gives the area a comfortable, settled kind of vibe. Relax at the Bedford Boys Ranch or Bedford Splash Aquatic Center.

Haslet

Haslet is a quiet, country suburb of mostly brand-new houses. Traffic getting to and from this community can be somewhat arduous at times, because the area’s fast growth is causing a lot of construction in the area. Haslet still feels rural, with farms on the edge of town or even right outside your window. The popular subdivision Sendera Ranch is located in Haslet, which is a popular residential community in the area. Since Haslet is so close to the booming Alliance Corridor, expect the area to get a lot busier in the coming years.

Fort Worth is continuing to grow and there’s still plenty of room for expansion in the land around the area. Whether you like your suburbs to be busy and convenient or remote and rural, there is a city for you just minutes from Fort Worth.