Plano, TX, known as 'The City of Excellence,' offers a unique blend of suburban charm and modern urban amenities. Located in northern Texas, Plano is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Dallas and Fort Worth enhance its status as a central point in the region. Plano's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Plano is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Heritage Farmstead Museum, the historic Downtown Plano, and the scenic Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve to the bustling The Shops at Legacy, known for its shopping and dining. Plano's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Tex-Mex cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Plano Balloon Festival and the Plano International Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Plano's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Texas at Dallas contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Plano is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Courtyard Theater and the ArtCentre of Plano are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Plano provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Plano’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like FC Dallas (MLS), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Plano include technology, healthcare, and education, with significant employers such as Toyota North America and J.C. Penney driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and light rail, making commuting convenient for residents.
Commute
An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.
Crime
Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.
Employment
Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Schools
The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this area.
Cost Of Living
Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.
Plano is a large city located in the state of Texas. The city has a population of 297,929 people. In Plano, there are 4,157 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Plano is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 27 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Plano could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Texas if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, crime, health & safety, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Plano and in the areas around Plano is a much easier task.
Using data and statistics Plano has received a livability score of 83/100. This score is ranked in the 97th percentile when compared to all other cities. This is a great score, as Plano ranks well in multiple categories! Plano is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Plano has been rewarded with high marks for amenities (B), crime (B+), education (A+) and employment (A+). The bad news for Plano, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: cost of living (F).
The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in Plano, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in Plano undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location. Among the enticing options for fun and exploration in Plano are: Angelika Film Center, Prestonwood Baptist Church, and Historic Downtown Plano.
Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area, as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. Plano gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 152 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Plano has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Plano real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Plano. Median real estate prices in Plano come in at $607,645, which is 136.7% higher than the Texas average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Plano, the home price to income ratio is 4.3, which is 34.4% higher than the Texas average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Plano | Texas | National |
| Average one way commute | 27min | 26min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 76.9% | 80.3% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.2% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.2% | 1.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 12.6% | 4.3% | 4.6% |
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