Are you moving to Plano? Moving to a new city is always a difficult decision. There are a number of factors to consider before making the move.
You have to consider safety, quality education, reasonable infrastructure, commute times, and public transport. Likewise, public spaces, and entertainment places are also important to consider before shifting to another city.
No doubt, there are many pros of moving to Plano. High median income, low unemployment rates, and low crime rate are some examples. Still, you should be seeing the full picture before making an important decision in your life.
If you are considering moving to Plano, you must be aware of the problems you might face in the city. Doing so will make sure that you do not regret your decision after making the move..
In this guide, we have come up with the top 5 worst things about living in Plano Texas. But before we get to that, below is an introduction to the city.
Moving to Plano, Texas: An introduction to the city
Plano is the 9th most populous city in the state of Texas and is located approximately 20 miles from Downtown Dallas.
Out of 280k population, many people work in Dallas and return to Plano in the evening. This is why Plano is also known as Dallas’ bedroom.
Plano is home to 56 neighborhoods with a median household income of $83000, higher than the national average.
Moving to Plano: The worst things about living in the city
Although there are many pros of living in Plano, we will discuss some of the major cons of living in Plano, TX here.
Consider Traffic Congestion before moving to Plano
Although I am not saying that there’s tons of traffic within Plano because currently this is not the case.
However, if you are moving between Plano and Dallas, the traffic congestion is real and there is a good chance you might get caught up in this traffic.
Suppose that you live in Plano and travel to Downtown Dallas for work regularly. With no traffic on the roads, you can reach the Plano border from Downtown Dallas in less than 20 minutes.
However, with lifting COVID restrictions and traffic congestion at Dallas North Tollway and Highway 75, the commute can take up to an hour. An accident on Highway 75 can make things worse for you.
If you live in East Plano, you can bypass some of the traffic. But then you will have to rely on the train station to reach your destination. So, you are always better off living where you work.
With that being said, Plano city itself is a major job center in the DFW area with headquarters of several corporate companies.
Big corporations like Tesla are moving their headquarters to Texas. In the last year, more than 200K people moved to the DFW area and this number is expected to rise further.
So, if you work in Plano, there is no better place than Plano to live and commute to your office or workstation without any trouble.
Car dependency
In Plano, car dependency is real and you need a car for almost everything in the city.
Plano, TX is basically a suburb and there are very few walkable areas where you can eat and roam around without a car.
Moreover, you’ll need a car to reach such pedestrian-friendly areas in the first place. Since Plano is a suburb, public transport is not reliable enough.
Although public transport does exist in the city, you will have a hard time in the city without a car. So, car dependency is one of the worst things about living in Plano, Texas.
If you are thinking of moving to Plano in the near future, consider moving with a car at your disposal.
Extreme Weather
If you’re coming from the northeast Midwest or places like Las Vegas or Phoenix, you will like the weather in Plano, TX.
If you are a snowbird, you’ll be happy to know that winters are mild here and snow is not much of a problem here.
The coldest month in Plano is January when the temperature ranges between 37°F and 56°F. The downside of living in Plano, however, is that summers can get really hot in this place.
In July and August, the temperature can go as high as 96°F in Plano. Nonetheless, the weather here is not as humid as in Houston or as hot as you feel in Las Vegas or Phoenix.
If you’re coming from the Pacific, it will take some time before you can adjust to the weather in Plano. For instance, tornadoes are a real possibility here.
Although there are plenty of warning systems in place for the safety of residents and casualties are pretty rare, property damage does happen due to these tornadoes.
So, if you are moving to Plano, make sure that you are mentally ready for these tornadoes and you have a safe place in your home to remain safe when the alarms go off.
Hailstorms are another problem that might disturb you in Plano.
Takeaway
To avoid any problem, you should check the forecast regularly and stay at home in case of any expected hailstorm.
Otherwise, if you are caught off guard in a hailstorm, it can be a terrible experience for you with your car looking like it has come through a war zone.
Talking about extreme weather, it is also pertinent to mention here that garages and covered parking spaces are a necessity in Plano suburbs.
So, you should be careful while choosing a home in the Plano area.
However, there is not much to worry as nearly all the suburbs in Plano have homes with garages and covered parking spaces.
Due to the hailstorms, especially in north Plano suburbs, roofs in the DFW area receive hail damage. Nonetheless, the damage will be covered by your property insurance.
Consider the Rising Housing Prices before moving to Plano
Median price of homes in Plano has doubled in the last 10 years. The massive influx of population into Texas, especially the Dallas Metroplex, is no secret.
Plano suburbs surrounding the Plano metro area are seeing a surge in housing prices.
Moreover, Plano itself has lots of job opportunities and the unemployment rate is considerably lower than other urban areas and older neighborhoods in the United States of America.
Apart from being a center of job opportunities in the DFW area, Plano TX is home to some of the best public schools, and private schools, in the area.
Due to great schools at walking distance, many families consider Plano as one of the best suburbs. Consequently, housing prices have surged.
Nonetheless, Plano is still known for its affordable single-family homes. It is true that you could have found a great home at a much cheaper price in Plano in the past, but it is still affordable for most residents.
If you are looking for affordable housing in Plano, you should stay away from West Plano and focus more on Central Plano and East Plano for your dream home.
If you want more specifics about housing prices in Plano, I have a video explaining the cost of living in Plano.
You can check the video to get an idea of what options you have in different price ranges in the Plano area.
Lack of nightlife
The final con of living in Plano might not affect all of you but it’s worth mentioning anyways.
If nightlife is your priority, don’t move to Plano. Plano is not like North Dallas and nightlife shouldn’t be on top of your priority list if you are considering living in Plano.
Plano can offer you peaceful nights if that is what you are looking for.
Moving to Plano: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plano Texas a good place to live?
Although there are pros and cons to living in Plano, the advantages outweigh the cons by far.
If you are considering moving to Plano, the city offers you good schools, parks, and a peaceful living environment.
With low unemployment rate and little crime, Plano is one of the safest cities throughout the Dallas Fort Worth area.
The median home value in Plano is around $330,000. Good weather, corporate job opportunities, high schools, parks, peaceful life, low crime, and affordability make Plano the perfect living place for you.
Are people in Plano Texas friendly?
Yes, the people in Plano are friendly when compared to other cities in the state.
Since Plano is witnessing a massive influx of population, you will find diversity in the city. In short, you will never feel like you are not home.
Is there a bad part of Plano Texas?
Not all suburbs in Plano are created equally and there are some bad neighborhoods you should avoid while selecting a home in Plano.
Check out: Top 3 Best Areas To Live In Plano Texas
According to the most recent census and FBI data which considers life index, unemployment rate, crime, and poverty rate, suburbs ranked lowest are Hutchins, Seagoville, Pilot Point, Balch Springs, Duncanville, Cockrell Hill, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Dallas, and Garland.
On the other hand Southlake, Highland Park, University Park, Highland, Coppell, Lucas, Argyle, Trophy Club, Keller, and Colleyville are some of the best places in Plano.
Is Plano Texas Safe?
Plano, TX is one of the safest cities in Texas where you can enjoy a peaceful life.
Safety is one of the most important things to consider before moving to any place. According to a recent study, Plano ranked 3rd in the entire country in terms of safety. The crime rate in Plano is 28% less than the national average.
The high safety rating is based on a number of factors. These include property crime, hate crimes, traffic incidents, and percentage of uninsured residents. Moreover, the local police department is highly skilled and keeps the city safe as much as possible.
The city itself is a tight knit community and people understand the importance of growing a safe neighborhood and preventing crime.
With a low unemployment rate, crime in Plano is much lower than other suburbs in the state. Plano schools, corporate offices, and a peaceful environment will make you a big fan of the city.
Is Plano Texas boring?
I wouldn’t say that. Although there isn’t much of a nightlife in Plano, it still is home to some of the best restaurants with every kind of imaginable food.
The diversity in food is amazing in Plano. Legacy West is the entertainment center of Plano with lots of restaurant bars and shopping centers.
So, there are enough opportunities for you to have a good time at a restaurant or bar but the pace is definitely a little slower up here when compared to Dallas.
What is the cost of living in Plano?
Although the cost of living in Plano is not as high as New York or San Francisco, the city is expensive when compared to other cities in the state.
Plano is one of the most affordable cities near the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan area. Compare this city with other large cities in the country,. You would agree that Plano offers you more value for money.
Although the living expenses are 7% higher than the national average, the cost of living is less when compared with San Francisco or New York. Another benefit the residents of Plano get is that they don’t have to pay any state income tax. Although transportation charges are 4% higher than the national average, you have to pay 2% less utility costs.
With a $90K per year salary, you can enjoy a comfortable life in Plano. The city ranks in the middle of the cost-to-live index of America. Although the cost of living is high in the city, it still is considered one of the most affordable cities in the US. The high median income of residents also makes for its high living costs.
Final Thoughts on moving to Plano
So, Is Plano Texas a good place to live? Well, I have many clients moving to Plano from out of state and they seem to be confused about living in Plano.
Plano is always on top of my list of recommended areas to live in Texas along with some other cities.
I have explained the worst things about living in Plano in this guide. As a licensed broker with real estate links, I will keep offering you advice on living in Plano and other areas throughout Dallas Fort Worth.
So, if you have any questions, make sure to leave a comment below or subscribe to my Youtube channel where I cover your questions regularly. Take care.
