Sanger predicted to become the new Gateway to DFW

SANGER, Texas — Could this city with just over 10,000 residents near the Texas-Oklahoma border along I-35 become the new “gateway” to Dallas-Fort Worth?

Officials in Sanger in Denton County, about 50 miles north of Dallas, say they believe their city will.

“DFW has crept up at the door and we are the next frontier for North Texas,” Sanger City Manager John Noblitt said at a recent conference for city planners. “We imagine in 10 years, the gateway to DFW will be Sanger.”

From 2010 to 2020, Sanger’s population grew from 6.916 to 8,839, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, and is up more than 30% from 2012 to 2022.

By 2024, the population grew to 9,703, according to data on the city’s website, and it's projected to grow to 11,037 by 2029. By 2040, officials estimate Sanger’s population will reach 17,048, up nearly 90% from the 2020 estimated population of 9,080, according to Sanger’s 2024 housing study.

“As the DFW area expands northward, driven by available land and increasing housing demands, we believe Sanger is positioned to become the next gateway to DFW over the next decade,” Noblitt said.

New home builds are also on the rise in Sanger.

From fiscal year 2023-2024, the city issued 68 new residential building permits, up from 16 in fiscal year 2022-2023.

Over a thousand homes are plated in a couple of subdivisons inside the city limits and more than that in rural areas outside the city limit line.  

What’s driving growth in Sanger?

City officials attribute this growth to both its location on the I-35 corridor and economic growth both within the city and the larger North Texas region.

Denton County experienced a 67% increase in GDP between 2017 and 2022, compared to a 42.41% increase in the DFW metro area at large during the same period, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data the city cited in its study.  

According to Sanger’s 2024 housing study, 11 new retail businesses are opening or have recently opened, with about 5,748,000 square feet of industrial space being developed. The Star Business Park in Sanger will include about 5,000,000 square feet of industrial space and another nearly 700,000 square feet of industrial space is being developed on a 90-acre plot south of the Walmart distribution center off Stemmons Freeway in the city.

Sanger’s growth is also connected to the growth in the larger DFW area.

The city of Denton receives the largest number of commuters from Sanger at 987, followed by Dallas at 436 and Fort Worth at 252.

 “The small portion of Sanger’s workforce that is employed within the city might indicate that there is a mismatch between employment opportunities and available housing options, or between the industries present in the city and the skill sets of residents,” the housing study reads. “While Sanger’s own economy has steadily grown over the course of several decades, its connection to the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is significant, and the economic growth of surrounding cities will have an impact on Sanger’s economy and housing market.”

The industries that employ the most Sanger residents are construction, manufacturing and educational services, representing about 34% of the workforce, according to the housing study.

How Sanger is preparing for future growth

Water and infrastructure needs are among the top concerns of Sanger officials as the population continues to grow.

Sanger has a wastewater collection system that serves about 3,386 properties and a population of about 9,080, according to the housing study.              

“While current requirements are met, future population growth will necessitate infrastructural improvements,” the housing study notes.

Noblitt said the city is working to develop a 450-acre site that the city owns to help address future water and wastewater needs. According to the 2024 housing study, Sanger is also preparing to install new wells and replace and extend water lines in the coming years.

The city is also working to meet the demand for housing.

“Sanger’s median household income is $86,083, which is 15.4% higher than the national average,” Sanger’s housing study reads. “This income distribution has 24.10% of households earning less than $50,000 annually, indicating a potential need for affordable housing options…The federal poverty line in 2022 was $29,950, and Sanger has a lower percentage of households earning less than $25,000 compared to both Denton County and the national average. The relatively low level of low-income households in Sanger would suggest a lesser demand for attainable housing in Sanger, compared to the broader need for attainable housing.”

Noblitt said that as the city plans for growth, Sanger is also working to preserve its small-town heritage.

“Sanger is fortunate that much of our planning occurred before the large-scale development began,” he said. “This proactive approach allows us to move forward with purpose, striking a balance between growth and preserving the small-town character that is important to many of our residents.”