Smithfield

What Smithfield feels like.

Before North Richland Hills was North Richland Hills, there was Smithfield — a small old-town grid that the suburbs eventually grew around. The streets still run in tidy, walkable blocks that predate cul-de-sac logic, and the scale stays human: modest lots, mature trees, and a texture you can't replicate with a new plat. It's the closest thing the city has to a historic core, and it wears the role lightly.

The modern twist is the Smithfield TEXRail station, which puts DFW Airport a train ride from the old townsite and has focused the city's attention on the blocks around the stop. Drivers do fine too: downtown Fort Worth in about 14 minutes, downtown Dallas in about 31. For North Texas buyers who want somewhere with a past and a transit line to its future, Smithfield is a short list of one.

What homes look like here.

Smithfield's housing stock is the most eclectic in North Richland Hills. The old grid carries a mix of vintage cottages, ranch-style homes, and later infill, each block a little different from the last — a welcome break from subdivision sameness. Around the TEXRail station, planning has invited newer, denser housing formats, so townhome-style infill tends to cluster near the rail stop. It suits character hunters, buyers who'd rather renovate than wait on a build slot, and rail commuters who want the airport without the tollway. Bring an inspector who knows older homes, and bring some imagination.

The case for Smithfield.

Is Smithfield a good place to live?

For buyers who value character, yes. Smithfield offers something rare in the mid-cities: an original town grid with walkable blocks, varied housing, and a TEXRail station of its own. It's not polished master-plan living — it's older, more eclectic, and more interesting, with the trade-offs and rewards that come with age.

Can you commute by train from Smithfield?

Yes, and it's the neighborhood's calling card. The Smithfield TEXRail station sits right at the old townsite, with service running to DFW Airport in one direction and downtown Fort Worth in the other. For airport commuters and frequent travelers, that can mean leaving the car at home entirely.

What school district serves Smithfield in North Richland Hills?

Smithfield is served by Birdville ISD, which covers North Richland Hills. Confirm campus assignments for any specific address with the district before you commit, but the short version is that students on the old grid attend Birdville ISD schools, and school-run logistics stay simple.

Are there new construction homes in Smithfield?

Some, and likely more coming. The blocks around the TEXRail station have drawn planning attention for newer, denser housing, and infill projects appear on the old grid as lots turn over. Inventory is never deep all at once, so buyers wanting new construction in Smithfield should watch listings closely and move when something surfaces.

How far is Smithfield from downtown Dallas or Fort Worth?

Downtown Fort Worth is about 14 minutes by car, downtown Dallas about 31, and DFW Airport about 15 — or a direct TEXRail ride from Smithfield's own station. Legacy West in Plano runs about 38 minutes, which keeps the neighborhood workable even for far-flung North Texas commutes.

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