If you are planning to relocate to Texas or its surrounding neighborhoods, you might want to know what it’s like living in Plano, TX? Perhaps you are wondering how it’s for young professionals or families.
Before buying a house in a specific area, you must consider the factors influencing your choices. For instance, demographics, schools, amenities, and the local community can significantly impact a place.
Some home buyers prefer a walkable area with various amenities closer to where they live. In comparison, others may want proximity to a peaceful neighborhood.
Check out; Living in Plano, Texas Pros and Cons! Is Plano the Right Place for You?
For some, it’s preferable to live near open spaces and natural landscapes. In contrast, others would love to live near the hustle and bustle of the city. However, several ways exist to identify which area best suits your lifestyle.
In this article, we’ll cover the best neighborhoods with affordable housing. You’ll also get a detailed view of entertainment options, outdoor activities, schools, and everything Plano offers.
Best areas for living in Plano, TX
Plano is the ninth-largest city in Texas, located about twenty miles from Downtown Dallas. It is one of the most famous and fastest-growing cities in the US, with an excellent education system.
According to Niche, it is the ninth-best city to live in the US in 2022. It also stands at #2 for best public schools in the US. The ranking is based on test scores, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, education quality, and student and parent reviews.
Plano offers lots of employment opportunities, recreation facilities, affordable living, the best senior high schools, and great neighborhoods.
It also provides hiking and biking trails, lush landscaping, an off-leash dog park, and tons of activities & entertainment. A 32-mile, limited-access Dallas North Tollway passes through the city of Plano.
The housing expenses in Plano are 28% higher than the national average. But public transport and gas prices are 6%, grocery is 5%, and healthcare is 18% lower than the national average.
The median household income of Plano residents is $96,348, and the median housing value for a typical home stands at $541,546. So, considering the median income with the cost of living, it’s pretty affordable living in Plano, TX.
It is also home to a myriad of cultures and cuisines from around the globe and offers an unmatched family-oriented environment and hospitality.
Some of the best areas in Plano, TX, include:
Downtown Plano, TX
Downtown Plano offers a unique place from the rest of the region. It acts as the art and cultural hub due to its excellent theatres, museums, dance, music, drama, and culinary arts.
Probably, the most fantastic part about this neighborhood is its many restaurants, coffee shops, bars, barbeques, and shopping places. It is a walkable area with brick-lined streets and renovated buildings.
If you want some entertainment, this is the best place to have fun and walk around on weekends.
Only recently has the Federal Agency added Downtown Plano to the National Register of Historic Places.
Various amenities are available within walking distance, so due to this reason, the houses in Downtown Plano sell quickly. The median listing price for an average home of 1,536 square feet with three beds and two baths sits at $425,000.
In addition, Downtown Plano hosts Plano East Sr High School plus one middle, high and elementary school.
Park Forest
Park Forest is located in Central Plano and is known as one of the best-established neighborhoods in the city. It acts as the entry point to Plano city, with most of its housing built around the 1970s.
An average house built during this period is typically between 1500 to 2000 square feet. It has four bedrooms and two bathrooms with a median value of $400,000.
Park Forest is a peaceful neighborhood with lots of greenery and mature trees lining the roadways.
There is also a park with excellent options for walking and biking. If you are a nature lover, you’ll definitely love living here.
The main focal point of this neighborhood is the Plano Senior High School located in Central Plano, making it the best place to live for families.
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve is located in East Plano. It offers 800 acres of hiking and biking opportunities.
You can also enjoy canoeing, kayaking, or all kinds of outdoor activities in this neighborhood. The weekends provide crazy fun for families in Oak Point Park.
But there are also some peaceful areas in this neighborhood. So if you are particularly looking for a quiet day out, you can definitely go there to have a moment of peaceful solitude.
The median home price in Oak Point Park stands at $475,000 for a 2,766 square feet lot with four bedrooms and three baths.
Hunters Glen
Hunters Glen is located in West Plano and is served by the famous Plano Independent School District in Collin county.
Hunters Glen offers mid-range price housing in Plano, with most of the homes built in the early 80s. Unlike the newer neighborhoods, the lots here are usually more oversized and equipped with beautiful landscaping.
In Hunters Glen, the median value for a typical house of 2500 square feet with four bedrooms and three bathrooms falls around $550,000. There are also lots of stylish two and three-bedroom apartments available here.
A walking score of 40 means it offers a reasonably good walking distance to the nearby stores, shops, restaurants, and bars.
With proximity to many excellent parks and a huge splash pad for kids, Hunters Glen is one of the best places in Plano city.
In addition, it offers easy accessibility to a 200-acre Arbor Hills Nature Preserve located just 9 minutes away from Hunters Glen. It offers biking, hiking trails, and a lake for boating and kayaking.
Legacy West
Legacy West is one of the newer neighborhoods of Plano, Texas, with multitudes of shopping centers, dine-in, and eateries spread across 255 acres. It is also home to several corporate headquarters of Boeing, Chase, Toyota, Liberty Mutual, etc.
It is not an exaggeration to say that this area serves as a hub of Plano. So, even if you live in any other neighborhood, you are bound to come across the Legacy West area.
The median year for the housing development is 1998. For a 1500 to 2000 square feet house with four beds and three baths in Legacy West, the median value sits at $410,300.
Legacy Food Hall
Legacy West’s main attraction is the Legacy Food Hall, a three-story European-style food hall.
It features 22 food stalls offering cuisines and specialties from worldwide. The food hall also provides a brewery and live entertainment.
Deerfield
Deerfield is a high-end neighborhood in Plano. A typical house with five bedrooms and four bathrooms spread across 4000 to 4500 square feet stands at $875,000.
The lots are more oversized, with two stories, high ceilings, and grand entrances. An average house in Deerfield is built around the late 90s and early 2000s. The housing is newer, with well-cared yards and landscaping.
Moreover, Deerfield offers excellent accessibility to parks, playgrounds, and daycare centers. It also has plenty of dining options, cafes, grocery stores, dessert shops, and bakeries. So, there’s ample to savor if you want a weekend brunch, a morning coffee, tacos, or a cheesecake.
Plenty of elementary, middle, and high schools serve Deerfield with scorings of 8-10 out of 10 by Great Schools.
Boardwalk at Granite Park
You can locate Boardwalk & Granite Park in West Plano near the Legacy West area. It’s a super popular neighborhood with many offices, retail, and eateries.
This neighborhood supports healthy choices and active socializing year-round. It is a one-of-a-kind community conveniently connecting office buildings with dining and retail options.
If you are a foodie, there is a strip of restaurants, bars, a brewery, and a biscuit sandwich bakery along the lake. You’ll also find great outdoor dining and taco places at the waterfront.
For an outdoorsy person, Boardwalk offers life-size connect four, corn hole games, and lots of other fun and activities.
Every Sunday, a Farmer’s Market offers fresh farm produce and homemade products. So, in a way, Broadwalk provides a mix of chic & organic lifestyles.
FAQs: Living in Plano, TX
Is Plano, Texas, an excellent place to relocate?
Plano, Texas, is voted the #5 place to live and work in the US. It offers a dense suburban feel, with most residents owning their homes.
This city provides various amenities such as parks, lakes, hiking and biking trails, restaurants, cafes, bars, and live music entertainment.
It also boasts an excellent education system in the whole US. So, overall, Plano is a great place for families and job seekers.
What are the weather conditions in Plano, Texas?
The summers in Plano are hot. Some months have comfortable humidity while other leans towards the drier end. The winters are cold and windy.
Also, it is partly cloudy all year round in Plano. But the average temperature never gets below 24°F or above 101°F.
How much do I need to earn to lead a comfortable life in Plano?
Check out our detailed guide for Cost of Living in Plano Texas
According to the cost of living calculator, you need to earn at least $49,414 monthly to maintain a comfortable standard of living in Plano, TX.
As compared to other metropolitan cities, Plano offers a higher monthly income and high quality of life at a relatively low cost of living.
What are the most affordable places to live in Plano, Texas?
Some of the cheapest places to live in Plano are Estates at Russell Creek, with a median home price of $379,650.
An average house in Prairie Creek Estates stands at $479,742, while home in Old Towne costs around $315,213. You can also find a good home in Shadow Run at $472,127.
Is Plano a good place for families?
Plano ranks at #3 for the safest cities to raise a family in the US. Due to its excellent public schools, economic growth, low crime rates, and family-friendly amenities, it’s an ideal place to relocate.
How’s the education system in Plano, Texas?
Niche ranks the Plano Independent School District as the 16th best school district in Texas state.
According to the test scores, 63% of students are proficient in reading while 65% are best in Mathematics. The average graduation rate is 95%, and the SAT/ACT scores stand at 1280/29 out of 1360/36.
Are you planning to relocate to Plano? Contact us to find a suitable neighborhood for living in Plano, TX.
Plano is a great place with excellent quality of life, the best school districts, affordable housing, and close proximity to various amenities.
With several corporate headquarters of Fortune 500 companies located in Plano, you won’t lack in terms of employment opportunities.
From high-end apartments to upscale ranch-style estates and small houses, you’ll find lots of housing options in Plano.
It is also home to the best hiking and walking trails, lakes, parks, outdoor fun & activities, and top-notch restaurants & bars.
There is no end to how much Plano offers in terms of entertainment. In fact, its neighborhoods boast tranquility & fun for people who are looking for both living choices.
So, if you are planning to move to Plano, we can help you find the best place that fits your lifestyle.
We are a team of realtors from Texas, assisting people from around the globe to relocate to Dallas, Texas, and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Our main aim is to cover everything from new construction to schools, pros and cons, and the cost of living in a specific area in Texas.
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