# Living in Plano, TX: Realust Score 81

> Source: Realust (realust.com), data as of October 2026. Cite: https://realust.com/city/plano/

URL: https://realust.com/city/plano/
County: Collin
Realust Score: 81/100 (B+, Very Good), tied for #29 of 84. Base 79 + price-tier bonus 2.
Category scores: Prosperity 79, Schools 84, Safety 76, Lifestyle 89, Market 79, Affordability 76, Commute 69, Growth 62
Median home price: $493K
Population: 290,594
Market momentum: Growing (home prices -3.8% over 1 year, +15.8% over 5 years)

Plano, TX is a polished, high-amenity North Texas suburb that feels like a full-scale city: strong job access, highly developed retail and dining, and neighborhoods that range from quiet and established to sleek and new. It’s home to major corporate campuses and sits on key corridors like US-75 and the Dallas North Tollway, which makes commutes to multiple job centers practical (often with traffic as the tradeoff). Housing is mostly single-family but with plenty of apartments and townhomes, especially near Legacy West, The Shops at Legacy, and along the rail corridor; expect generally higher prices and rents than many other DFW suburbs, with big variation by school zones and neighborhood age. Day-to-day life is convenient and “errand-friendly,” with abundant grocery options, parks and trails, recreation centers, and a large selection of restaurants from casual to upscale. While it’s still largely car-oriented, Plano has pockets that feel more walkable—particularly around Legacy and downtown Plano—and DART rail access can be a real plus for some commutes. The main upsides are stability, services, and a well-managed suburban experience; the main tradeoffs are cost, peak-hour congestion, and a busier, more built-out feel compared with smaller or more semi-rural towns. If you want a suburb where almost everything is close and the lifestyle is very turnkey, Plano is one of the strongest fits in DFW.

Strengths:
- Exceptional public schools with strong academic programs and extracurriculars
- Thriving job market with major corporate headquarters and tech companies
- Diverse restaurant scene with over 1,000 dining options representing 70+ cuisines
- Low crime rates and well-maintained neighborhoods throughout the city
- Excellent parks system with 85+ parks and extensive trail networks

Trade-offs:
- Hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F
- Higher home prices than many surrounding suburbs
- Traffic congestion on US-75 and major roads during rush hour
- Property taxes among the highest in Texas (around 2.15%)
- Suburban sprawl requires a car for most daily activities

Data:
- Demographics / Population: Total Population 290,594; People per sq mile 4,053; 5-Year Growth +1.2%
- Demographics / Mobility & Migration: Moved Last Year 14.5%; Same Home 1+ Year 85.5%; From Out of State 3.2%; From Different County 4.3%
- Demographics / Age Distribution: Under 18 20.9%; 25-34 13.8%; 35-44 15.3%; 65+ 14.7%; Median Age 39.6 years
- Demographics / Households: Avg Household Size 2.6; Family Households 68.3%; Homeownership Rate 56.9%; With Kids 32.2%; Married 55.2%; Single Parent 4.3%; Living Alone 25.8%; Seniors Alone 8.4%
- Demographics / Education Level: High School+ 94.3%; Bachelor's+ 60.5%; Graduate Degree 24.9%
- Demographics / Connectivity & Remote Work: Broadband Access 96.6%; Have Computer 99.1%; Work From Home 25.3%
- Real Estate / Home Prices: Per Sq Ft $222; Starter Home $424,000; Median Price $493,092; Premium Home $970,000
- Real Estate / Home Price Trends: 1-Year Change -3.8%; 5-Year Change +15.8%
- Real Estate / Rent Trends: 1-Year Change -1%; 5-Year Change +25%
- Real Estate / Market Health: Active Listings 653; Median Days on Market 63; Under Contract 28.2%; Price Reduced 9.5%; Sale-to-List Ratio 96.9%
- Real Estate / Market Insights: Cheaper to Rent $950/mo; Seller's market 2.6 mo; Rental Yield 4.3%; Income to Buy 4.4x; vs Region Avg -1%
- Real Estate / Fit Scores: Remote Work Fit 89; Family Fit 47; Investment 86
- Real Estate / Typical Home: Sq Ft 2,487; Beds 3.5; Baths 3; Lot Sq Ft 12,100; Year Built 1994; Garage 2.1-car
- Real Estate / Property Mix: Single Family 73.5%; Townhome 5.5%; Condo 4.5%
- Real Estate / Common Features: Pool 24%; Garage 98%; Single Story 38.5%; Fireplace 74%; Central Air 68.5%; Waterfront 0.5%
- Real Estate / Costs & Ownership: Est. Monthly Payment $2,731; Median Rent $1,781; Avg HOA Fee $224/mo; Have HOA 45.5%
- Real Estate / Investment Indicators: Rental Vacancy 0.5%; New Construction 17.5%; Per Bedroom $149,855
- Lifestyle / Lifestyle Scores: Area Feel Dense Suburban; Family Friendly 8.7; Outdoor Activities 5.3; Nightlife 8; Health & Fitness 8; Diversity 8; Weather 6.7
- Lifestyle / Nearby Amenities (within 5 miles): Restaurants 60+; Parks 60+; Gyms 60+; Grocery 38; Coffee 60+; Bars 60+; Theaters 3; Daycares 60+; Hospitals 60+; Pharmacies 60+; Dentists 60+; Libraries 15; Dog Parks 60+; Museums 13
- Lifestyle / Getting Around: Walk Score 36; Bike Score 48; Transit Score 14
- Lifestyle / Seasonal Temperatures (high / low): January 56° / 39°; April 74° / 55°; July 94° / 77°; October 77° / 58°
- Lifestyle / Annual Conditions: Sunny Days/Year 218; Rainy Days/Year 147; Annual Rainfall 53.3"
- Crime & Safety / Safety Overview: Safety Grade B; Violent crime (per 1,000) 1.49; Property crime (per 1,000) 12.12
- Crime & Safety / Violent Crime (per 100,000): Assault 90.58; Robbery 26.76; Murder 0.69; Rape 33.28
- Crime & Safety / Property Crime (per 100,000): Burglary 160.57; Theft 1163.44; Vehicle Theft 142.39
- Job Market / Income: Median Household $112,253; Average Household $151,865; Per Capita $59,916
- Job Market / Employment: Unemployment Rate 4.0%; Job Growth (1 yr) +0.3%; Poverty Rate 6.8%
- Job Market / Income Distribution: $150k+ 36.4%; $100k-$150k 19.1%; $75k-$100k 13.2%; $50k-$75k 13.0%; $25k-$50k 10.6%; Under $25k 7.7%
- Job Market / Industries & Employers: Major Industries Technology, Healthcare, Financial Services, Corporate Headquarters; Top Employers Toyota, Liberty Mutual, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, JCPenney
- Education / School District: Primary district Plano ISD; District Grade A-; State Ranking Top 24%
- Education / Schools: Elementary 45; Middle 13; High School 6
- Education / Elementary Schools: Wyatt Elementary A (96); Mathews Elementary A (96)
- Education / Middle Schools: Fowler Middle A (97); Rice Middle A (95)
- Education / High Schools: Academy High School A (98); Jasper High School A (94)
- Education / Academic Info: Student-Teacher Ratio 13.7:1
- Education / Graduation Rates (Class of 2024): Graduation Rate 94.5%; Dropout Rate 2.8%
- Education / College Readiness (Class of 2023): Took SAT/ACT 93%; College Ready 42.9%; TSI Ready 60.5%
- Transportation / Mobility Scores: Walk Score 36; Bike Score 48; Transit Score 14
- Transportation / Commute: Avg Minutes 25; Drive Alone 63.6%; Carpool 6.9%; Work from Home 25.3%
- Transportation / Distance To: Downtown Dallas 19.3 mi; DFW Airport 26.5 mi; Love Field 20.2 mi
- Transportation / EV Charging: Public Stations 58; DC Fast Ports 89; Level 2 Ports 158
- Transportation / Major Highway Access: Highways US-75, President George Bush Turnpike, Dallas North Tollway
- Cost of Living / Cost Index (100 = National Average): Overall 108; Housing 125; Utilities 98; Groceries 102; Transportation 105; Healthcare 102
- Cost of Living / Monthly Utilities: Electric $142; Water $55; Gas $45; Internet $75
- Cost of Living / Everyday Costs: Monthly Groceries (Family of 4) $850; Gas Price (per gallon) $2.85
- Cost of Living / Taxes: Sales Tax Rate 8.3%; Property Tax Rate 2.2%

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