What Is the Difference Between the Neighborhoods in Celina, Texas Like Light Farms Versus Mustang Lakes

Light Farms and Mustang Lakes are both large master-planned communities inside Celina city limits, and both sit within Collin County. That is roughly where the similarities end.

Light Farms at a Glance

Light Farms is one of the largest master-planned communities in the entire DFW area. The development spans roughly 2,000 acres and is planned for more than 5,000 homes at full build-out. The community straddles the Celina and Prosper border, with the majority of the residential sections falling within Celina. It launched in 2015 and has been one of the fastest-selling new construction communities in Collin County since.

Light Farms is organized into distinct villages, each with its own character and builder. You will find sections called The Nolen, The Hawthorne, The Graham, and several others, each representing a different price point or architectural style. This village structure gives the community a lot of variety within a single development.

Mustang Lakes at a Glance

Mustang Lakes is a smaller, more boutique master-planned community by comparison. It covers approximately 700 acres and is planned for around 2,200 homes. The community sits closer to the intersection of Frontier Parkway and Custer Road, which puts it in a slightly different part of Celina than Light Farms. Mustang Lakes broke ground around 2016 and has built a reputation for a quieter, more cohesive neighborhood feel.

The name comes from the 15-acre lake that anchors the community. Homes back up to the lake, to greenbelt corridors, or to one of several smaller ponds spread throughout the development. Water views are a defining feature that Light Farms does not offer in the same way.

2. Home Sizes, Prices, and Builders

Price range and home size are often the first real deciding factors when comparing these two Celina communities. Both communities offer new construction, but they target somewhat different price bands and square footage ranges.

What Homes Cost in Light Farms

Light Farms covers a wide price spectrum, which is one of its defining characteristics. As of October 2026, active new construction listings in Light Farms range from roughly the mid $400,000s on the lower end up to the low $900,000s for larger or more upgraded homes. Resale homes within the community tend to start in the high $300,000s and move up from there depending on the village, lot position, and finish level.

Square footage in Light Farms ranges widely as well, from around 1,800 square feet in the more entry-level villages to over 4,000 square feet in the larger product lines. Lot sizes are generally in the 45-foot to 65-foot width range across most sections, though some villages offer 70-foot or wider lots.

What Homes Cost in Mustang Lakes

Mustang Lakes skews higher in price overall and tends to attract buyers looking for larger lots and more square footage. As of October 2026, new construction in Mustang Lakes starts around the high $500,000s and reaches into the $1.2 million range for the larger estate-style homes. Resale inventory in the community typically starts in the mid $500,000s.

Lot widths in Mustang Lakes tend to run from 60 feet to 90 feet, giving homes more breathing room between neighbors. Many lots back to the lake, a pond, or a greenbelt, which adds to the premium. Square footage typically starts around 2,200 and goes well past 4,500 in the larger sections.

Builder Lineups in Each Community

Light Farms has worked with a long list of builders across its many villages. Current and past builders in Light Farms include Highland Homes, Drees Custom Homes, Darling Homes, Pulte, Shaddock Homes, and Perry Homes, among others. The variety of builders is one reason the community has such a wide price and style range.

Mustang Lakes has worked with a more curated set of builders, including Toll Brothers, Drees Custom Homes, and K. Hovnanian Homes. Toll Brothers in particular has a significant presence in Mustang Lakes and brings a more structured design-center process and a higher average finish level. The smaller builder roster contributes to a more consistent architectural look throughout the community.

3. Amenities, Green Space, and Community Feel

Both communities invest heavily in amenities, but they have taken different approaches to what those amenities look like and how they are organized. Understanding the difference between the neighborhoods in Celina, Texas like Light Farms versus Mustang Lakes often comes down to which amenity package resonates with how you actually want to spend your time.

Light Farms Amenities

Light Farms is built around an exceptionally active outdoor lifestyle. The community features over 240 acres of open space, more than 13 miles of hike and bike trails, five resort-style pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, a restaurant called The Nolen (named after the village it anchors), a community farm with a farm stand, and an event barn. The farm is one of the most distinctive amenities in any DFW master-planned community, offering residents working garden plots and seasonal produce.

The sheer scale of Light Farms means there are multiple amenity nodes spread throughout the development rather than one central hub. Different villages have their own pool and pocket parks, which keeps amenities accessible without everyone converging on a single location.

Mustang Lakes Amenities

Mustang Lakes centers its amenity package around The Club at Mustang Lakes, a dedicated amenity complex that includes a resort-style pool, a lap pool, a splash pad, tennis courts, a fitness center, and a clubhouse with event space. The 15-acre lake is available for fishing and non-motorized watercraft, which gives the community a recreational dimension that Light Farms does not replicate. Miles of walking trails wind along the lake and through greenbelt corridors.

Because Mustang Lakes is smaller, the amenity complex functions more like a true gathering point for the whole community. Residents tend to describe a stronger sense of knowing their neighbors, partly because there is one primary hub rather than several dispersed ones.

How the Two Communities Feel Day to Day

Light Farms feels like a small city unto itself. With thousands of homes and multiple villages, there is constant activity, a steady stream of new neighbors moving in, and a wide variety of events organized through the community's lifestyle director. If you want a lot of social programming and do not mind a larger, more active environment, Light Farms delivers that.

Mustang Lakes has a quieter, more established feel even though it is still growing. The lake creates a natural focal point, and the smaller total footprint means less construction activity at any given time compared to Light Farms. Buyers who want more space between homes and a more settled atmosphere tend to gravitate toward Mustang Lakes.

For a broader look at how these communities fit into Celina's overall market, the Celina, Texas This Year Real Estate Market Guide covers pricing trends and neighborhood context across the city.

4. Location, Commute, and Surrounding Area

Both communities are in Celina, but their specific locations within the city create real differences in commute time and access to everyday conveniences.

Getting In and Out of Each Community

Light Farms sits along the Dallas North Tollway corridor, which is one of its strongest practical advantages. The community's main entrance is off Light Farms Pkwy, which connects to the Tollway within a short drive. From Light Farms to the Legacy West area in Plano runs roughly 20 to 25 minutes in light traffic. Getting to downtown Dallas typically takes 40 to 50 minutes depending on the time of day and which route you take.

Mustang Lakes is positioned closer to Custer Road and Frontier Parkway. From there, reaching the Tollway requires a few more minutes of surface street driving compared to Light Farms. Commute times to Plano's employment centers run roughly 25 to 35 minutes, and downtown Dallas is generally 45 to 55 minutes. The difference is not dramatic, but it is worth factoring in if you commute daily.

Proximity to Retail, Dining, and Services

Light Farms benefits from its proximity to the Prosper border and the retail growth happening along the Tollway. The Shops at Prosper Trail, H-E-B, and the growing collection of restaurants and services along US-380 in Prosper are all within a 10 to 15 minute drive. The Light Farms community itself has a restaurant on site, which reduces the need to leave for a casual meal.

Mustang Lakes residents also have access to the US-380 corridor and the growing retail along Custer Road. The Celina Town Center area and the newer commercial development coming to the Frontier Parkway corridor are both within reach. Celina has been adding grocery, dining, and service options steadily, and both communities benefit from that growth.

For a detailed look at what it costs and how long the buying process takes in this part of Celina, see the guide on buying a home in Celina, Texas, which walks through the full process from offer to close.

5. HOA Structure, Fees, and What They Cover

HOA fees are a meaningful part of the monthly cost of living in either community, and the structures differ in ways that matter when you are budgeting.

Light Farms operates under a Community Development District structure in addition to a standard HOA. This means residents pay both an HOA fee and a separate PID (Public Improvement District) assessment that is collected through the property tax bill rather than as a monthly charge. As of October 2026, Light Farms HOA fees run approximately $132 to $175 per month depending on the village, and the PID assessment adds a separate annual charge that varies by lot. Buyers should request the full PID disclosure when making an offer so they understand the complete carrying cost.

Mustang Lakes uses a more straightforward HOA structure without a separate PID layer. As of October 2026, monthly HOA fees in Mustang Lakes run approximately $165 to $195 per month. That fee covers access to The Club, trail maintenance, common area landscaping, and community events. Some sections with lake-front or premium-view lots may carry additional fees. Because the fee structure is simpler, it tends to be easier for buyers to calculate the true monthly cost upfront.

Both communities have architectural review committees that govern exterior changes, fence styles, landscaping, and paint colors. The standards in Mustang Lakes tend to be somewhat more prescriptive, which contributes to the more uniform aesthetic throughout the neighborhood.

For more context on how these fees interact with Celina's overall property tax picture, the guide on Celina, Texas Lilyana Neighborhood: Real Estate Market Guide offers a useful comparison of how different Celina communities structure their costs.

6. Other Celina Neighborhoods Worth Comparing

Light Farms and Mustang Lakes are the two most prominent master-planned communities in Celina, but they are not the only options. Understanding the difference between the neighborhoods in Celina, Texas means looking at what else is available so you can make a fully informed decision.

Lilyana is a newer master-planned community in Celina that has been drawing attention from buyers who want a smaller community feel at a slightly lower price point than Mustang Lakes. Lilyana is developed by Hillwood Communities and features homes from builders including Coventry Homes and Tri Pointe Homes, with prices currently ranging from the low $400,000s to the mid $600,000s. The community has its own amenity center, pool, and trail system.

Cambridge Crossing is another Celina community worth knowing. It sits along the Tollway corridor and offers a range of home sizes from entry-level new construction into the mid-luxury range. Homes there start in the high $300,000s and reach into the $700,000s.

For buyers interested in larger lot sizes or more custom builds, Celina also has acreage properties and estate-style neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city where half-acre to multi-acre lots are available. These areas offer a completely different lifestyle from the master-planned communities.

A thorough overview of how Celina's various neighborhoods compare is available through this community comparison guide for Celina homebuyers, which covers additional details on both Light Farms and Mustang Lakes from a buyer's perspective.

You can also explore a broader rundown of Celina's master-planned options through this guide to the best master-planned communities in Celina, TX, which includes details on communities at various price points.

7. Side-by-Side Summary: Light Farms vs. Mustang Lakes

Here is a direct comparison of the key factors that separate these two Celina communities as of October 2026.

• Total planned homes: Light Farms is planned for 5,000-plus homes across multiple villages; Mustang Lakes is planned for approximately 2,200 homes.
• Price range (new construction, October 2026): Light Farms runs from the mid $400,000s to the low $900,000s; Mustang Lakes runs from the high $500,000s to approximately $1.2 million.
• Lot widths: Light Farms offers primarily 45-foot to 70-foot lots; Mustang Lakes offers primarily 60-foot to 90-foot lots.
• Signature amenity: Light Farms features a working community farm, on-site restaurant, and 13-plus miles of trails; Mustang Lakes features a 15-acre lake with fishing and non-motorized watercraft access.
• Pool count: Light Farms has five resort-style pools spread across villages; Mustang Lakes has one central resort pool plus a lap pool at The Club.
• Tollway access: Light Farms has more direct Tollway access; Mustang Lakes requires slightly more surface street driving to reach the Tollway.
• HOA fee structure: Light Farms has HOA fees plus a separate PID tax assessment; Mustang Lakes has a single HOA fee with no PID layer.
• Monthly HOA fees (October 2026): Light Farms runs approximately $132 to $175 per month by village; Mustang Lakes runs approximately $165 to $195 per month.
• Builder variety: Light Farms has worked with a wide range of builders including Highland Homes, Drees, Darling, Pulte, Perry, and Shaddock; Mustang Lakes has a more curated roster including Toll Brothers, Drees, and K. Hovnanian.
• Community scale and feel: Light Farms is large, active, and diverse in price and style; Mustang Lakes is smaller, quieter, and more architecturally consistent.