What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Plano, TX?

Moving to a new city is never an easy decision because there are always many pros and cons to consider. If you’re planning to move to Plano, many questions will run through your mind: Is the city a good place to live? Are schools in the city a good fit for my kids? What’s the median price of homes in the city?… The list is endless.

To anyone who has considered moving to Plano, TX, one thing is for sure: The city is a great place to live, study, work, or even raise a family.

The pros of living in Plano are plenty: the close proximity to Dallas, great neighborhoods, excellent education system, low taxes, affordable living costs, superior-quality healthcare, and the amazing Southern charm. Even so, there are also several cons to living in the city, including the extreme weather, rising housing costs, and heavy traffic.

For years, Plano has been described as Dallas’ bedroom, and it’s easy to see why. The city of 280,000 residents is located only 20 miles from Downtown Dallas. A good number of residents work in Dallas and make the daily commute to and from work.

Plano is the 9th most populous city in Texas and comprises 56 neighborhoods. It straddles Collin and Denton counties. The median household income in Plano is $83,000, which is more than the national average.

Texas has the second strongest economy among American states. The local economy in cities like Plano is equally strong. Dozens of corporations have set up shop in the city, including FedEx, Liberty Mutual, Toyota, and Ericsson. These companies are some of the biggest employers in Central Texas, which means Plano is awash with job opportunities.

Plano’s prime location in Texas and its proximity to Fort Worth and Dallas make it a major business destination. Currently, its unemployment rate is a low 3%, which is below the national average. In addition, it’s expected that the city’s job market will increase by 44% in the next decade, which translates to more employment opportunities.

Plano has the best air, road, light rail, and rapid transit systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis. The city is only 20 minutes by road from downtown Dallas and half an hour from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

If you live in the city, you’ll only be four hours away from America’s main continental destinations. In addition, Dallas Area Rapid Transit provides public transportation in Plano (light rail and public buses). Thus, moving around is quite hassle-free.

This is arguably one of the greatest advantages of living in Plano. The State of Texas doesn’t levy a personal and corporate income tax. In Plano, there’s a homestead exemption on residential property taxes. As a result, Plano residents pay the lowest taxes among the DFW area cities.

Moving to Plano, you’ll earn not only more than the national average income but also pay less tax. Thus, anyone looking to move to a city with friendly tax policies shouldn’t look beyond Plano.

In recent years, there has been a downturn in Plano’s housing market. This is attributed to the broader decline in North Central Texas. Nonetheless, property value in Plano remain high. For example, the value of homes in the city has risen by 1.7% over the last year.

The median home value in Plano is $336,000, with the media price list standing at $389,900. When you consider Plano’s housing price cuts, average time on the market, and list-to-sale price ratio, you’ll understand why the city is a buyers’ market.

39% of Plano residents rent, while 61% own their living space. The average monthly rent in the city is $1,277, while the median monthly rent is $2,000. Plano’s rental price is higher than other DFW area cities, which have a median monthly rent of $1,725.

We cannot talk about Plano’s housing market without mentioning the best neighborhoods to live in. Ranked among the fastest-growing cities in Texas, there are tons of living options for those looking to move to Plano.

The most affluent neighborhoods in the city are Willow Bend, Normandy Estates, Avignon, and Forest Creek Estates. These neighborhoods are relatively crime-free and also boast proximity to some of the best school districts in North Central Texas.

Residents have generally divided the city into East, West, and Central Plano. This divide indicates housing prices in the city. The West and East Ends mostly offer luxury housing, including ranch-style estates, while the Central end offers moderately affordable housing options.

If you’re a parent with school-going children or you want to move to Plano for schooling, you have a reason to smile. The Lone Star State has invested well in its education system, and Plano is no exception. This is attested to by the 97% literacy rate.

Plano is home to some of the best schools and colleges in Texas. Thus, you can be sure that your kids will gain admission to good schools and colleges. Top government schools in Plano include Jasper High School, Liberty High School, Vandeventer Middle School, and Mary Evans Elementary School.

College-going learners can choose to study at either of the two Collins College Campuses. In addition, there’s the University of Southern Methodist University and a campus of Dallas Baptist University (DBU-North).

An incredible 56.66% of adults in the city have earned a four-year undergraduate degree, master’s degree, law degree, or even a Ph.D. This is attributed to the excellent education system in Plano and Texas in general.

By virtue of being located in Texas, the Southern charm and hospitality are evident in Plano. This is among the greatest perks of living in the city. Thanks to the laid-back nature of life in Plano, making friends at your place of work or school will be relatively easy.

Texas has a rich and interesting culture, and within a few months of moving to Plano, you’ll find yourself immersed in it. Texans love to socialize, and Plano being a small city, things will even be easier for you. This comes in handy if you’re moving to Plano and don’t know anyone. After that, settling in will be quite easy.

Although Plano is a mere 25 minutes from downtown Dallas, the traffic on Highway 75 and the Dallas North Tollway can be hellish. Whenever there’s a fender bender, it can take up to one hour to reach Dallas instead of the usual 25 minutes.

This doesn’t come as a surprise, given that more than 200,000 people moved into the DFW area in the last year alone. With major corporations such as Tesla moving their headquarters to Texas, expect even more people to move into the DFW area in the coming years.

Compared to other cities in Texas, the cost of living in Plano is relatively high. Even so, the city ranks in the middle of America’s cost-to-live index. It isn’t as expensive as San Francisco or New York, but it is more expensive than Amarillo or Waco.

Although the cost of living is among the cons of living in Plano, it remains one of the most affordable cities in the United States. The high median income also helps to compensate for this.