Often considered a satellite city of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Plano is 20 miles north of downtown Dallas. Plano is home to more than 280,000 residents, which makes it 9th most populous city in Texas. Plano has a reputation across the metroplex for landscaped neighborhoods, excellent public schooling, and great property value. Ranked by AreaVibes.com, Plano received the award of the Best Place to Live in 2013. As Plano grows and develops, it continues to retain many characteristics that earned it these coveted titles.
The word “plano” is Spanish for plain. As key buildings were erected and more settlers came to town, the first medical doctor in the area, Dr. Henry Dye submitted a request to name the city Fillmore to honor the U.S. president at the time. Postal authorities denied this request, countering with the name of the original settler of the area, William Foreman. Mr Foreman wasn’t interested in having his name immortalized, so Dr. Dye suggested Plano. The doctor had offered a description of the area’s terrain as the city name and it was approved by Postal authorities. Mr Foreman became the city’s first postmaster.
Plano, Texas is one the safest city of the USA and voted many times as the richest city of the USA. Many companies are doing business in Plano, Texas which make it a very prosperous city.
Despite being a city with a population of over 270 thousand people, Plano offers a supportive neighborhood. Plano is one of the best places to raise your children and family. Availability of premier public and private schools, affordable homes, and low crime provide a great and healthy environment to start a career, raise a family, or retire.
Employment in Plano
Plano is considered by many to be the hub of north Texas new economy corridor, largely because it’s become a magnet for Telecom, IT, semiconductor, and Software, Digital Media, Financial and Professional services industries.
Plano deserves serious bragging rights when it comes to the job market. Many corporations including six Fortune 500 companies call the city home. If you’ve ever dreamed of working in the corporate offices of JC Penney, Capital One, Toyota Motor North America or Frito Lay, Plano is the place to be.
Plano’s unemployment rate is well below the national average at 3%. The city also expects to see its job market increase 44.6% over the next decade, higher than the national average projection of 33.5%.
The costs of living in Plano are high when compared to other similar cities throughout the region. Moreover the price of rent is higher than average , as are the various living costs related to average living costs, such as food, transportation, and utilities. The median family income in Plano is $110,799, which is almost double the national average for median family income.
The estimated price for an average home in Plano is around $202,181, also well above the national average, but on par with similar real estate prices that exist in other major cities throughout the country.
Plano offers a lot of housing options to choose from i.e. single-family homes, multi-family homes, estates, town homes, assisted and independent and living centers and apartment.
Nearly 61% of Plano residents own their living space while the remaining 39% rent. Average rent in Plano is estimated to be Rs $1,277 per month. Median rent is $2,000 per month, placing it higher than the metroplex median of $1,725 per month. The most affordable neighborhoods to rent in are Biltmore Swim & Racquet Club, Audubon Place, and Breezeway Farms. The most expensive neighborhoods to rent in are Windsor Park,Wolf Creek Estates and Whitestone.
Considering Plano’s list-to-sale price ratio, housing price cuts, and average time on market Plano is currently a buyer’s market.
The best part of Plano, TX is that the city runs a contest for this designation every year! Plano’s BEST Neighborhood program allows neighborhood homeowners’ associations to apply for the BEST badge. In Plano, BEST stands for Beautiful, Engaged, Safe and Thriving.
Glenhollow Estates is a family-oriented neighborhood in Plano. Located right next to Coyote Creek Park, and enjoying the sounds of the creek itself, Glenhollow residents characterize the community as neighbourly, engaged, and active. The neighborhood has recently seen an infusion of young families; over the last 12 years, they’ve seen about a 50% turnover rate of their homes, with new families moving in all the time.
With homes selling for around $500,000 and up, Forest Creek Estates is a beautiful Plano neighborhood, consisting of a close-knit community and fit with tree-lined streets. Situated along the Chisholm Trail, families living here can enjoy a serene walking through nature, or relaxing.
This place is synonyms to luxury living in Plano. It is an upscale neighborhood in Plano having huge houses, averaging at 4,000+ square feet. Selling cost of these houses tend to be $700,000 or more. Close to both the route 121 and Tollway, it’s easy to get from Avignon Windhaven to plenty of dining and shopping outlets; there’s also easy access to the airport and the larger city of Dallas, TX.
If you love humid summers, gentle winters, and comfy spring and autumn months, you’ll adore the climate of Plano. Located in North Central Texas, Plano has a hot, humid, subtropical climate. Plano gets an average of 41 inches of rain per year. Plano receives about 229 days of sun per year relative to the national average of 205 sunny days.
The area is known for its hot and humid weather. Temperatures in July and August rise into the 90’s, but the humidity can make things feel much irritable and sticky. Do you dislike long snowy winters? Plano averages only 2 inches of snow per year which rarely lasts more than a few days.
For most of the Americans, security is a prime factor when moving to a new place. If Plano is on your list, you’ll be delighted to learn that when it comes to safety and peace of mind, you can’t do much better than the Texas City. Incidences of violent crime and property crime are very low. Forbes has repetitively ranked Plano as one of the most safe cities in the United States
At present, Plano, TX is home to nearly 288,000 people. The median age in the city is 34. Plano is an awesome place to start and raise a family, which is why almost 17% of the total population is between the ages of 5 and 17, and 70% of occupied households are lived in by families. There are also more married couples in Plano than singles.
Presence of excellent access to air, rapid transit, light rail, and sophisticated road networks makes Plano a top contender among other cities located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Plano is 20 minutes from downtown Dallas and only 30 minutes from the DFW International Airport. The city is also 25 minutes from Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), and a short drive from other private regional airports in Addison and Collin counties. A perk of living in Plano is that you’re less than 4 hours to every major continental destination in the United States.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) operates public buses and light rail in Plano. DART has numerous stops throughout Dallas and provides access to other suburban areas including Garland, Richland, Farmer’s Branch, and Carrolton.
With over 53 percent of Plano residents having a bachelor’s degree or higher, Plano is consistently recognized as having one of the best education systems in the country. The major share of credit can be attributed to the Plano Independent School District, which consists of 70 public elementary, middle and high schools, and 16 private schools. In addition, Plano is also home to campuses of several different colleges and universities which include Collin College, Southern Methodist University, and the University of North Texas, while the University of Texas at Dallas is also located nearby.
Despite Plano’s booming growth in recent decades, the city thrives with history and culture. Downtown Plano houses popular the Interurban Railway Museum, the well known former primary stop of the Texas Electric Railway that began in 1908, and the Courtyard Theater, an extremely popular attraction with Plano residents and home of the Plano Symphony Orchestra.
Each September, Plano hosts the Plano Balloon Festival. It’s a three day event including performances from local entertainers and musicians, tethered balloon rides, and balloon launches as well. This Plano festival brings in up to 90,000 visitors, making it the largest event of the season for the city.
The Heritage Farmstead is a historical location that offers visitors a unique glance into life on the Backland Prairie. Located near the Legacy Town Center, make sure to visit the Trails in Legacy, a small part of the historic Shawnee Trail.
Plano is a foodie’s paradise and is a perfect dining hot spot. Plano was the 4th spot on its list for ‘foodie cities’ by Yelp. You can enjoy an incredibly diverse culinary scene here. Whether you want to try authentic local dishes such as Peruvian cuisine or a roasted pork cooked in a mouth-watering Bavarian style, Plano has a great restaurant waiting to welcome you.
In addition, the city boasts of a number of parks with huge trees providing much needed shade to help you escape the hot Texas sun and enjoy the great outdoors. You’ll have no trouble finding exciting nightlife in Plano. The Shops at Legacy offer several great wine bars, an independent cinema, and upscale dining.
There really is something special about Plano and we’re pretty confident that you’ll love living here. We hope this guide gives you a little insider’s insight into what Plano has to offer. If you decide to take the plunge and move to Plano, we at AB moving would love to help you!
AB Moving is a top rated professional Texas mover offering a wide array of moving services to residents and businesses throughout North Texas and beyond. We understand what you are facing and we can help, with choices you can make, and a cost you can count on.
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