Plano, TX
Plano, TX scores 69/100 (Good) on Your Area Score. It is a large city with a moderately affordable cost profile, a stronger safety profile, and a manageable climate. Whether it is a good place to live will depend heavily on your budget, neighborhood choice, and priorities.
Based on affordability, safety, climate, infrastructure, schools, grocery access, and risk.
Pros
- Safety
- Grocery Access
Cons
- Cost of Living
- Risk
At a Glance
Why Plano, TX scored 69/100
Top strengths
- Safety is one of the strongest categories for this city.
- Grocery Access also helps lift the overall score.
- Plano, TX may appeal most to families, people who want convenience.
Main trade-offs
- Cost of Living is one of the weaker categories here.
- Risk may be a deciding factor depending on your priorities.
- Neighborhood choice still matters because citywide averages never tell the full story.
Category Scores
This city sits in a middle affordability tier, median gross rent is about $1,699, median home value is about $412,500, and the city is large enough to support a broad mix of jobs, services, and retail. See cheaper cities in TX.
This city has a strong safety profile. Violent crime is below average at 151.6 per 100k residents, and property crime is below average at 1,466.4 per 100k. It ranks among the safer options for relocation in its region. Source: FBI UCR 2024. Compare safer cities in TX.
The climate in Plano, TX is generally hot with mild winters. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Larger cities usually score better here because they support more services, access, and everyday convenience.
School quality is mixed to solid overall. Some districts and attendance zones perform better than others, so neighborhood-level research is important.
Most residents should have solid grocery access, though convenience and store variety can depend on which side of the city they live in.
Living in Plano, TX
This section turns the score into day-to-day reality: housing, comfort, family fit, convenience, and the main trade-offs you would notice after moving.
Cost, housing, and daily setup
This city sits in a middle affordability tier, median gross rent is about $1,699, median home value is about $412,500, and the city is large enough to support a broad mix of jobs, services, and retail.
- Median rent: $1,699
- Median home value: $412,500
- Best fit: families, people who want convenience
Bottom line
Plano, TX is currently rated Good with a MoveScore of 69/100. Its strongest areas are Safety and Grocery Access, while the biggest trade-offs are Cost of Living and Risk.
Climate and comfort
The climate in Plano, TX is generally hot with mild winters. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Risk and drawbacks
The main environmental risks here include heat, hail, storms, and localized flood risk. Conditions can vary significantly by neighborhood and property type.
Schools and family fit
School quality is mixed to solid overall. Some districts and attendance zones perform better than others, so neighborhood-level research is important.
Errands and convenience
Most residents should have solid grocery access, though convenience and store variety can depend on which side of the city they live in.
Entertainment & Things To Do
Plano, TX offers strong big-event access, with multiple nearby venues that can support sports, concerts, and major weekend activity.
Best Fit For
- Families who want a workable mix of schools, services, and convenience.
- People who want strong convenience, errands, and day-to-day access.
- People who value dining, shopping, events, and a more active city feel.
- People who can handle warmer weather in exchange for broader city amenities.
Less Ideal For
- Buyers or renters looking for one of the more affordable city options in Texas.
- People who want fewer weather, insurance, or location-specific risk trade-offs.
Neighborhood Reality
Plano, TX is not uniform. Some areas perform significantly better than others across safety, schools, and overall livability. Where you choose to live within the city will have a major impact on your experience.
What stands out
- Toyota Stadium — about 8.8 miles away
- American Airlines Center — about 18.3 miles away
- Cotton Bowl — about 18.7 miles away
Relocation takeaway
People who care about weekend options usually want to know whether a city feels quiet, convenient, or event-driven. Plano, TX currently leans more toward regional convenience and big-event access.
Crime & Safety Reality
This is a practical interpretation of the city-level safety score. It should be treated as a broad relocation signal, not a substitute for neighborhood-level research.
What the current score suggests
Plano, TX has a stronger city-level safety profile than many comparable markets, though neighborhood conditions still vary. The main environmental risks here include heat, hail, storms, and localized flood risk. Conditions can vary significantly by neighborhood and property type.
What movers should do next
- Compare neighborhoods, not just city averages.
- Check commute routes after dark, not only daytime convenience.
- Look for trade-offs between affordability, access, and perceived safety.
Traffic & Commute Reality
Traffic quality is not just about how many roads exist. It is about whether the city gives you enough route options to handle daily commuting, errands, and regional travel.
How travel may feel here
Plano, TX has workable everyday connectivity, though travel times can stretch depending on commute direction and time of day. A few strong road connections help with local and regional travel, but commute quality will still depend heavily on where you live and where you work.
Why this matters
Cities with stronger access routes usually feel easier for airport runs, cross-town errands, and commuting to job centers. That does not eliminate congestion, but it does improve flexibility when one corridor slows down.
Primary Access & Connectivity
These are some of the main road connections near Plano, TX. They help show how easy it is to move around locally, reach job centers, and make longer regional trips.
President George Bush Turnpike
Usually one of the faster access routes in the area, though some trips may involve toll costs.
Dallas North Tollway
Usually one of the faster access routes in the area, though some trips may involve toll costs.
Nearby Stadiums & Event Venues
Nearby venues can make a city more appealing for sports fans, concerts, and large events, but they can also increase traffic and activity on event days.
Toyota Stadium
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
American Airlines Center
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
Cotton Bowl
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.