Ferris's housing market reflects its position as a growing Dallas-area commuter community. The city contains a mix of established single-family homes and newer residential development, as growth from the metroplex expands southward along Interstate 45. Historically a small agricultural and brickmaking town, Ferris now offers new-construction subdivisions alongside its older housing stock, appealing to families and commuters seeking more space and relative affordability than communities closer to central Dallas. The city's dual-county location in Ellis and Dallas counties places its housing within reach of both counties' services.

Ferris offers a small-town lifestyle with direct access to one of the nation's largest metro areas. Residents enjoy a slower, community-oriented pace centered on local schools, churches, and civic life, while the Interstate 45 corridor places Dallas and its employment, entertainment, and amenities within a short drive. The city's brickmaking heritage gives it a distinctive sense of history, and its ongoing growth has brought new housing and residents while retaining a smaller-town feel. Ferris suits households seeking affordability, space, and commuter convenience on the southern edge of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

Ferris is served by the Ferris Independent School District, a public district that covers the city along with surrounding areas of Ellis County and sections of southern Dallas County, including portions of Red Oak and Waxahachie. The district provides pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade education for the community and the surrounding area. As Ferris has grown as a commuter community, the school district has remained a central institution, serving both long-time residents and the newer families moving into the area's expanding neighborhoods.

Ferris sits on the Interstate 45 corridor, a primary highway linking Dallas to communities south of the city, giving residents a direct route to downtown Dallas roughly 20 miles to the north. This highway position is central to the city's identity as a commuter community, placing the metroplex's employment centers within a manageable drive. The city's location in Ellis and Dallas counties also connects it to surrounding communities such as Red Oak and Waxahachie, making Ferris a practical base for travel throughout the southern metroplex.