How much does affordable housing in DFW typically cost?

Rent is usually set as a percentage of your income or capped relative to the area median income for that county, so it varies by household size and program. A one-bedroom at 60% AMI in Dallas County will run differently than the same unit in a smaller Tarrant County suburb, so ask the property for their current income and rent chart rather than assuming a flat rate.

How long are the waitlists?

It ranges widely. Newer LIHTC properties or those in less central locations may have units available within a month or two, while established Section 8 or senior communities in high-demand areas can have waitlists stretching past a year. Ask the leasing office for their current average wait by unit size when you apply.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to provide proof of income for every adult household member (recent pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit award letters), photo ID, and Social Security numbers for all applicants. Some properties also run credit and criminal background checks, so ask about their specific screening criteria before you pay an application fee.

How can I judge the quality of a community before moving in?

Look past the leasing office and walk the grounds, check a vacant unit if one is available, and ask current residents about maintenance turnaround times. Consistent, recent feedback about how a property handles repair requests is usually a better signal than the age of the building itself.

Affordable & Income Restricted Housing in DFW Metroplex

What this category covers

These are apartment communities across Dallas-Fort Worth that set rents based on a household's income rather than straight market rate. Most operate under programs like Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Section 8 project-based assistance, HOME funds, or local housing authority partnerships. Rent is typically capped at a percentage of the area median income (AMI), often 30%, 50%, 60%, or 80% AMI, and you'll usually need to document your household income and size during the application process. Some properties serve specific groups, such as seniors or people with disabilities, while others are open to any qualifying household. We list 224 of these communities across the metroplex, ranging from small walk-up buildings to large garden-style complexes.

What to check before you apply

Start with the income limits and unit mix, since a property capped at 60% AMI may not work if your household falls above or below that band. Ask about the waitlist length; some communities have openings within weeks, others run waitlists a year or longer. Visit if you can, and look at unit condition, parking, on-site management responsiveness, and how well common areas and grounds are kept up. Confirm which utilities are included in rent and whether there are mandatory fees beyond the base rent. Ask directly what documentation you'll need (pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters) so you're not scrambling once a unit opens up.

How our scores help

Our scoring weighs factors like responsiveness, maintenance follow-through, and consistency of resident feedback over time, so you can compare properties on more than just a name and an address. See our methodology for exactly how we calculate it and what data feeds into each score.

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Affordable & Income Restricted Housing by city: Dallas Fort Worth

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All affordable & income restricted housing, ranked by score and relevance

224 businesses. The order weighs each business's overall score by how much of its reviewed work is affordable & income restricted housing, so a lower-scored specialist can rank above a higher-scored generalist. Filter and sort below, or open the full map view.

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Common questions about affordable & income restricted housing

How much does affordable housing in DFW typically cost?: Rent is usually set as a percentage of your income or capped relative to the area median income for that county, so it varies by household size and program. A one-bedroom at 60% AMI in Dallas County will run differently than the same unit in a smaller Tarrant County suburb, so ask the property for their current income and rent chart rather than assuming a flat rate.
How long are the waitlists?: It ranges widely. Newer LIHTC properties or those in less central locations may have units available within a month or two, while established Section 8 or senior communities in high-demand areas can have waitlists stretching past a year. Ask the leasing office for their current average wait by unit size when you apply.
What documents do I need to apply?: Expect to provide proof of income for every adult household member (recent pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit award letters), photo ID, and Social Security numbers for all applicants. Some properties also run credit and criminal background checks, so ask about their specific screening criteria before you pay an application fee.
How can I judge the quality of a community before moving in?: Look past the leasing office and walk the grounds, check a vacant unit if one is available, and ask current residents about maintenance turnaround times. Consistent, recent feedback about how a property handles repair requests is usually a better signal than the age of the building itself.

Guides to choosing affordable & income restricted housing

Affordable and income-restricted housing in DFW: how it works
How income-restricted apartments work in Dallas and Fort Worth, who qualifies, and how the application process differs from market-rate renting.
Section 8 and housing voucher apartments in DFW: what renters should know
How Housing Choice Vouchers work in Dallas and Fort Worth, which apartments accept them, and how to start the application process.