Only a 30-minute drive north of Dallas, Plano has one of the hottest housing markets in one of the nation’s hottest states. Plano is home to roughly 285,494 residents, several Fortune 1000 companies, and more than 10,000 businesses. As the ninth largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, it is a family-friendly city that routinely enjoys high livability scores in terms of crime, education, entertainment, and job opportunities.

The two top reasons many families settle in Plano are safety and education. Typically, Plano has annual crime figures that are well below the national average. This city is also well respected for its strong K-12 school curriculum. Plus, there are many prestigious colleges including the University of North Texas and Southern Methodist University in north Plano.

Plano is also known as a hotspot for corporate headquarters including JP Morgan Chase, Capital One Finance, Bank of America, Toyota of North America, Liberty Mutual & Ericsson to name a few. It is also home to other well-known companies such as Frito-Lay, FedEx Office, Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Cigna insurance, Pizza Hut and the North Texas Tollway Authority.

Plano has everything you need in one city. It’s a shopping destination all on its own with two huge upscale shopping centers, The Shops at Legacy and Legacy West, along with a downtown full of local boutiques. Art lovers can spend days exploring the Downtown Plano Arts District with its community of performing arts events, galleries, boutiques, and concert halls. Nature lovers can enjoy more than 4,000 acres of parks, while foodies can choose from more than a thousand dining options.

Three important rankings to consider:

1. Plano is the 5th Most Affordable City in America for Early Retirees
2. Plano is the 7th Best U.S. City to Buy an Affordable Family Home
3. Plano is 9th Best City in America for First-Time Homebuyers

The median income in Plano, TX is $92,460 and the median home value is $302,053.

The award-winning Plano Independent School District serves residents in Plano. Plano ISD operates 44 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, and 10 high schools. These 67 schools are attended by approximately 53,700 students who live in Plano, Frisco, Dallas, Murphy, Parker and Richardson.