Ranked as the most affluent city in the US, Plano sits just north of Dallas and is one of the dozens of municipalities that comprise the greater DFW metro area. Home to just over 275,000 residents, Plano is the ninth-largest city in the Lone Star State. Rich in history and personality, this city never gets boring, which might be why so many people are choosing to move here. Here are six of the most attractive reasons to join the crowd, pack up your bags, and move to Plano, Texas.
#1: Full of Job Opportunities
Plano ranks as the second-best city in the nation for jobs. The city boasts more than 10,000 businesses, dozens of regional offices for nationwide corporations, and headquarters for four Fortune 1000 companies. Some of the biggest corporate names in town include JCPenney, Frito-Lay, Cinemark Theatres, Rent-a-Center, and Yum China Holdings. These and other companies employ tens of thousands of workers in the Plano area.
Top industries include telecom, software, digital media, semiconductor and IT companies, and healthcare. Job seekers will be happy to know that Plano typically enjoys unemployment rates below the US average. At the beginning of 2020, Plano’s unemployment rate was just 3.2%, compared to the US rate of 3.9%. Additionally, the city is poised for growth, with anticipated future job growth of 44.6%, which is significantly higher than the predicted US growth rate of 33.5%.
#2: A Peaceful and Prosperous Community
Not only is Plano one of the wealthiest communities in the country, but it’s also one of the safest. Despite its sizable population, Plano still has a small-town vibe with much lower crime rates than the US average. When it comes to violent crimes, the US average rate is 22.7, while Plano’s average is just 13.0. Property crime rates here (29.6) are also lower than the US average (35.4). These statistics make Plano the 3rd safest city in the US, just behind Columbia, MD, and Yonkers, NY.
#3: Plenty of Fun
Though the landscape may lack mountains, beaches, or even rolling hills, that doesn’t mean Plano lacks when it comes to recreation. Sure, the terrain is flat and even a bit non-descript, but the city does maintain dozens of parks and trails for residents’ enjoyment. Top picks include:
- Haggard Park: Home of the Interurban Railway Museum, this lovely park also features a playground, restrooms, and free Wi-Fi with views overlooking a small pond.
- Bob Woodruff Park: Full of trees and ample green space, this park has trails that meander along Rowlett Creek as well as a fishing pond, volleyball court, and playground.
- Hoblitzelle Park: An excellent place for walking or running, this park features 3.7 miles of trails along with playgrounds and sports fields.
In addition to plenty of green space, Plano also has shopping, museums, shops, and more. See our article on the top things to do in Plano for more info!
#4: Low Cost of Living
Despite being one of the most affluent communities in the US, Plano is surprisingly affordable, with a cost of living index that’s just slightly above the US index. While you’ll pay a slight premium for groceries and utilities, on average, you’ll pay less for transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous household costs. The highest expense category is housing – compared to the US cost of housing index of 100, Plano’s housing index is 143.6. As of July 2020, the median home price in Plano is around $345,000, which is almost $100K more than the US median home price of $248,857. Though this may sound expensive, consider the median home prices in the suburbs outside of other major metro areas, like Oakland, CA ($801,000), Bellevue, WA ($988,000), and Sandy Springs, GA ($512,000). In comparison, Plano is pretty darn affordable!
#5: World-Class Education
Plano is big on education. Most of Plano’s K-12 students attend one of the 72 schools in the Plano Independent School District, while some feed into surrounding school districts. All three PISD high schools made the list of Newsweek’s best public high schools, and 22 Plano schools have received the Blue Ribbon of National Excellence in Education. Plano seniors have an impressive 93% graduation rate, and the district shows impressive statistics for college readiness, including ACT and SAT scores above state and national averages and impressive enrollment levels in AP, International Baccalaureate, and Dual-Credit College Courses. In short, Plano is an excellent place for families with school-aged children looking for quality public education.
#6: Close to the Sporting Action
Plano only sits 20 miles from Dallas, Texas, which puts it near one of the most thriving and active sports scenes around. From Plano, you can quickly get to the following sports arenas to cheer on your favorite DFW home teams:
- AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX): Home to the five-time NFL Superbowl Champion Dallas Cowboys, this stadium is about 36 miles from Plano.
- American Airlines Center (West End – Dallas, TX): Home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and the NHL’s Dallas Stars, the American Airlines Center is just 19 miles from Plano.
- Globe Life Park (Arlington, TX): Home to MLB’s Texas Rangers, Globe Life Park is about 35 miles from Plano.
- Toyota Stadium (Frisco, TX): Home to MLS’s FC Dallas, Toyota Stadium is about 19 miles northwest of Plano.
As you can see, you have plenty of reasons to pack up and head to Plano. WalletHub even gave this city the title of “Happiest City in America” due to the physical and emotional wellbeing of its residents. Join the happy masses flocking to Plano!