Life in Plano
Thinking about moving to Plano? Perhaps, you’re looking for a new home in Plano?
Find out what makes Plano a desirable place for young professionals and families alike.
The city of Plano consistently ranks first on lists of best and safest cities to live in in the United States. It’s no wonder people are considering relocating to Plano.
Is it expensive to live in Plano, Texas?
Cost of Living
In comparison with other parts of the country, Plano’s residents have a good quality of life. In Plano, the average family makes nearly $93,000 per year, about three times as much as the national average of $31,000.
Although Plano has a high pay rate, the median home price is 32% higher than the national average. As of 2019, the median property value in Plano, TX was $361,000, and the homeownership rate was 55.8%. Plano residents own an average of two cars per household. While most people in Plano drove cars to work, commuters have a standard commute time of 23.8 minutes.
Plano’s cost of living is higher than the US national average for transportation, goods and services, and utilities. While lower costs in healthcare, groceries, and transportation. Plano’s high salaries and ample job opportunities help mitigate these costs, making it an affordable place to live.
Economy
The unemployment rate in Plano is 6.77% a little bit higher than the national average of 5.9 %. Though, job growth in Plano has been positive with an increase of 1.33% in 2019 and 3.3% in recent years.
Work
The city of Plano has approximately 154,610 people employed as of 2019 with a 1.33% growth in just a year. The 2019 median household income was $93,321. 2019
Several Fortune 1000 companies have their headquarters in Plano, such as Toyota, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Ericsson, and Frito-Lay. In addition to being a thriving commercial hub, Plano is a center for fin-tech industries like Capital One Finance, Bank of America, and Liberty Mutual.
Additionally, Texas has no income tax. In Plano, not only are you earning a higher median salary, but you also get to keep more of your paycheck. It’s clear why so many people are moving to Plano, Texas, compared to other cities where workers must pay Federal, State, and City income taxes.
Is Plano a nice place to live?
Plano is a fantastic place to live in according to its residents. First, let’s learn some facts about this great place.
Plano is a city in the U.S. state of Texas located approximately 17 miles (27 km) from Downtown Dallas. The city is situated in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis. The main airport serving Plano is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which is about 30 miles northeast of the city.
The name Plano comes from Spanish, meaning “plain”. Plano boasts of several corporate headquarters which creates more jobs. Forbes also ranked Plano as the nation’s safest city in 2011.
Population
By 2017, the city’s population reached 286,143, ranking it ninth among the most populous in Texas. The city was also the 69th most populous in the United States. Plano has a median age of 34, the age brackets of 25-24, 35-44, and 45-54 are relatively evenly distributed.
Plano is one of the best places to raise a family, which explains why almost 17 percent of the total population is between 5 and 17 years old, and 70% of occupied homes are owned by families.
Residents of Plano have a high level of education. Approximately 60% of the residents of this city hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Even so, only about 10% of the population speaks Spanish despite Texas’ proximity to Mexico.
A large number of Plano’s residents are veterans, mostly from the Vietnam War, which accounts for about 10,000 of them. Additionally, there are many Gulf War veterans here.
Education
Plano’s excellent education system benefits its residents. The Plano Independent School District has 76 public schools, one charter school, and 182 private schools.
For example, one-on-one instruction is provided at Fusion Academy in Plano, and there is a self-paced approach to learning. Students at Plano West High School, part of the public system, were listed in the top 1% of Newsweek’s Best High Schools. They received more than $20 Million in scholarships last year.
Weather
Plano experiences the warmest and driest month of the year in August with an average high temperature of 94.6°, which is cooler than most places in Texas. Plano has 3 comfortable months with high temperatures between 70 and 85°. October, May, and April are the best months of the year for Plano. Plano experiences its coldest nighttime temperatures in January, averaging 32.5° Fahrenheit.
The weather here is colder than most Texas places. Plano experiences the most rain during May and the driest during August.
Plano is one of the sunshine states, so it doesn’t have chilly winters, and it’s an ideal place for folks who enjoy the heat. The average temperature in the city last summer was solidly in the 90s, while the winter temperature barely dipped below freezing in 2017-2018. Plano has a fair amount of rain, with its heaviest precipitation in May of 4.3″. Snowfall is much less common.
Recreational and Outdoor Activities
Plano, Texas ranks among the best places to live in the United States. Residents of Plano can enjoy the dense suburbs and nearby parks, shops, restaurants, entertainment, and services, many of them within walking distance. Here are some fun things to do when in Plano:
1. Plano’s Annual Balloon Festival
Every September, Plano hosts a Balloon Festival. This three-day festival includes balloon launches and rides as well as performances by local entertainers and musicians. However, beware of a big crowd in a single event, as this festival draws 90,000 people.
2. Zip Line in Oak Point Park
Plano’s Oak Point Park has 800 acres of lush wildlife and is a stunning park. You can walk trails in the park, paddleboard, and kayak on the lake, and zip line.
Where should I live if I work in Plano, TX?
You might be interested to know that Plano consistently ranks high on the following top lists:
Best Cities to Buy a House in America – 4th out of 228
Best Cities to Live in America – 7th out of 228
Best Cities to Raise a Family in America – 8th of 228
Best Places to Live in Plano
Find out which neighborhoods are best for young professionals based on the number of millennial residents, job opportunities, and accessibility to bars, restaurants, and affordable housing. This ranking is based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, and other sources:
- Douglass Community
- Haggard
- Old Towne
- Timberbrook
- Meadows
- Forman
- Park Forest
- Silverwood
- Clearview
- Liberty Park
- Park Forest III
- Creekdale
- Dallas North Estates
- Briarwood
- Village Creek
- Thunderbird
- Plano Park
- Ridgewood
Is it safe to live in Plano, TX?
Plano is also incredibly safe – it was named the safest place to live twice since 2010. While Forbes ranked it 1st as the safest city to live in throughout the US in 2011.
Plano has a crime rate of 27.14 per 1,000 residents during a standard year and is 28% lower than the national average. Residents enjoy the safety, community, and tranquility of living in a smaller city that it offers.
Moreover, Plano holds an annual event where they crown the best neighborhoods. A homeowners group can request a BEST Neighborhood badge through the city’s program. Beauty, productivity, safety, and health are the hallmarks of the best neighborhoods in this city.
Summary
Plano residents enjoy a high standard of living.
In fact, Money Magazine named Plano the 3rd ‘Best Place to Live in America’ in 2016. It’s only 20 miles from Dallas, boosting the employment rate by 200,000 jobs and another 20,000 expected in five years.
Plano is not only a great place to work, but also a great place to live and raise a family. The city has the lowest crime rates of any city in Texas and the lowest taxes in the area. The real estate tax on a $301,850 home (the median in 2016) is about $6,000.
With high median income and affordability, you can live comfortably in Plano. It is near DFW International Airports and has over 244 destination options. Health, education, and safety are very important to Plano residents.
