Little Elm vs The Colony: the data, side by side
Little Elm's typical home value is $3,335 lower than The Colony's ($402,876 vs $406,211, Zillow ZHVI, June 2026). On the computed commute grid, The Colony posts the shorter free-flow drive to 11 of the six tracked employment centers. Which trade wins depends on your workplace and budget — the Fit Engine scores it for your exact profile.
Verified facts
| Little Elm | The Colony | |
|---|---|---|
| County | Denton | Denton |
| Population (Census Vintage 2024) | 61,219 | 45,897 |
| Typical home value (Zillow ZHVI, June 2026) | $402,876 | $406,211 |
| Typical rent (Zillow ZORI, June 2026) | $2,282 | $1,891 |
Counties: Little Elm — Denton; The Colony — Denton. Property tax depends on the taxing units at each address, not the city line alone — see how Texas property tax works.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates · Zillow ZHVI/ZORI June 2026 · OSRM commute grid 2026-08-09 · full methodology
Commutes compared
| Destination | Little Elm | The Colony |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy West | 20 | 10 |
| Frisco (The Star) | 21 | 10 |
| Las Colinas | 41 | 29 |
| DFW Airport | 42 | 29 |
| Downtown Dallas | 45 | 36 |
| Downtown Fort Worth | 61 | 49 |
| Richardson CityLine | 38 | 29 |
| Addison | 32 | 22 |
| Medical District | 45 | 35 |
| AllianceTexas | 58 | 56 |
| Cypress Waters | 40 | 28 |
Free-flow driving minutes (OSRM model, computed 2026-08-09). Peak-hour drives run meaningfully higher.
Where the commute actually decides it
The employment centers where these two diverge most, free-flow model.
- DFW Airport — The Colony is 13 min closer (29 vs 42 min)
- Las Colinas — The Colony is 12 min closer (29 vs 41 min)
- Downtown Fort Worth — The Colony is 12 min closer (49 vs 61 min)
Which one fits your household?
- Little Elm: posts no commute edge at any tracked center — its case is price or area preference.
- The Colony: choose it if your commute anchors to DFW Airport (29 vs 42 min), Las Colinas (29 vs 41 min) — it wins 11 of the 11 tracked centers.
- If budget leads: Little Elm typically prices $3,335 lower (June 2026); for renters, The Colony's typical rent is lower ($1,891 vs $2,282).
- Two workplaces? The Fit Engine weighs both commutes and your budget band together.
Communities to shortlist
In Little Elm: Preston On The Lake · Arbor Creek · Bay Ridge Estates · Brentwood
In The Colony: Austin Ridge at Lone Star Ranch · Austin Waters · Avignon Windhaven · Creekside at Austin Waters
Every community page carries its own computed commute grid; the full rosters live on the city profiles.
Score it for your profile
Your workplace, ceiling, and budget band decide this comparison — not our opinion.
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Adjacent decisions
Allen vs Little Elm · Allen vs The Colony · Celina vs Little Elm · Celina vs The Colony · Coppell vs Little Elm · Coppell vs The Colony
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