Plano

Plano is often characterized by its West and East distinctions, with US-75 (Central Expressway) roughly dividing them.

West Plano is known for affluent master-planned communities, proximity to Legacy West and corporate campuses, and newer development. Developed largely in the 1980s–2000s, this side features upscale neighborhoods with manicured landscaping, country clubs, and highly-rated schools. West Plano hosts major employers like Toyota, Liberty Mutual, and JPMorgan Chase—many residents have short commutes of just a few miles.

Amenities are abundant: Legacy West's shopping and dining, Shops at Willow Bend, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, and countless retail centers along the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road corridors. Demographics skew toward professional families and executives with higher median incomes. If you're seeking an upscale suburban lifestyle with urban conveniences, West Plano delivers.

East Plano represents Plano's historic heart, with established neighborhoods dating to the 1960s and 70s. This area has a more modest, small-town feel with tree-lined streets, brick mid-century homes, and rich cultural diversity. Home prices tend to be more affordable, making it attractive for first-time buyers or those seeking larger lots and character homes.

The gem of East Plano is Historic Downtown Plano Arts District—refurbished storefronts now house trendy boutiques, coffee shops, galleries, and restaurants. The area has undergone a renaissance with new apartment lofts and townhomes attracting young professionals who enjoy a walkable lifestyle. East Plano also benefits from DART light rail access (Parker Road Station) with direct trains to downtown Dallas.

The Collin Creek redevelopment—transforming the old mall site into a $1 billion mixed-use district—will add thousands of new homes and modern retail to East Plano in the coming years.

Both sides offer excellent schools, parks, and quality of life—the choice comes down to lifestyle preference.

One of Plano's biggest draws for families is its excellent public school system. Almost the entire city is served by Plano Independent School District (Plano ISD), recently ranked the #10 Best School District in Texas.

Plano ISD Highlights:

• Three nationally-ranked senior high schools: Plano East, Plano Senior, and Plano West

• Unique two-tier high school structure (9-10 campus, then 11-12 senior high)

• 97% graduation rate with exceptional college readiness

• Extensive Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs

• Specialized academies: STEAM education, Health Sciences Academy, IB World School

• Award-winning fine arts, athletics, and extracurriculars

• Average SAT scores around 1,270 (compared to ~1,010 statewide)

• Produces dozens of National Merit Scholars annually

The district serves about 53,000 students across 43 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, and multiple high school campuses. Class sizes are reasonable, and the district invests heavily in technology, facilities, and teacher quality.

Individual School Strengths:

• Plano West Senior High: Ranked among top 1% of U.S. high schools, known for academics and debate

• Plano Senior High: Legacy football program, strong journalism and IB programs

• Plano East Senior High: Long-running IB Diploma Program, strong STEM and JROTC

Other Districts: Some northwest Plano neighborhoods are zoned to Frisco ISD, another top-tier district. Small portions may be served by Lewisville ISD. Regardless of which district serves your neighborhood, you'll have access to excellent educational opportunities.

For families, Plano's schools are a major asset—and a key driver of property values and community desirability.

Plano's park system ranks #1 in Texas for access and quality, and #16 nationally. The city maintains 85 park sites and over 4,000 acres of parkland—82% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of green space.

Major Parks & Preserves:

• Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve (800 acres) - East Plano's crown jewel with woods, creeks, extensive trails, and the Red Tail Pavilion amphitheater

• Arbor Hills Nature Preserve (200 acres) - West Plano's scenic hills and trails, perfect for hiking and biking

Recreation Facilities: Plano operates five recreation centers with fitness gyms, pools, basketball courts, and classes for all ages. Annual memberships are affordable for residents—far less than private gyms. Facilities include:

• Tom Muehlenbeck Center (West Plano) - Multiple pools, running track, weight rooms

• Oak Point Recreation Center (East Plano)

• Plano Aquatic Center

The city also has nine public pools (family aquatic centers and traditional pools), perfect for Texas summers.

Sports & Activities:

• High Point Tennis Center - Over 20 courts, award-winning facility

• Two 18-hole golf courses - Pecan Hollow and Ridgeview Ranch (public)

• Nearly 100 miles of paved trails - Chisholm Trail, Bluebonnet Trail, connecting parks and neighborhoods

• Youth and adult sports leagues (soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball)

• Pickleball courts (booming in popularity)

The city continues investing in parks—through the 2025 bond, funding supports park upgrades, new trail connections, and potential new large community parks in growing areas.

Whether you're an active outdoor person or just enjoy a leisurely evening stroll, Plano delivers exceptional recreational opportunities.

Plano's central location and major highway access make commuting throughout DFW manageable.

Major Highways:

• US-75 (Central Expressway) - Runs through East Plano, direct route to downtown Dallas (~20-30 minutes off-peak)

• Dallas North Tollway - West Plano's corridor, connects to Dallas and Frisco

• President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT/190) - Southern boundary, east-west connector

• Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH 121) - Northern boundary, provides access to DFW Airport (~25 minutes)

Public Transit:

• DART Light Rail (Red Line) - Two Plano stations: Downtown Plano and Parker Road. Direct trains to downtown Dallas, making it easy for East/Central Plano residents to commute without driving

• DART Silver Line (Opening Late 2025) - New commuter rail connecting Plano to DFW Airport with stations at 12th Street and Shiloh Road. This will dramatically improve east-west transit

• DART Buses & GoLink - On-demand shuttle service covers various Plano zones, connecting riders to rail stations or within neighborhoods

Typical Commutes:

• Downtown Dallas: 20-30 minutes (off-peak), 35-45 minutes (rush hour)

• DFW Airport: 25 minutes via SH 121

• Legacy/Frisco area: 10-20 minutes from West Plano

Biking & Walking: Plano has bike lanes on major roads and extensive trail networks. Some residents in Legacy or Downtown Plano areas bike or walk to work. The city is more bike/pedestrian-friendly than many suburbs, though most residents still drive for daily errands.

Parking: Generally ample and free throughout Plano—shopping centers, parks, public facilities. Downtown Plano has free street parking and public lots.

Most residents drive, but transit options continue expanding—making it possible to reduce car dependency, especially with the Silver Line opening soon.

Plano is a retail and restaurant paradise. You won't lack for shopping or dining options—from luxury brands to big-box stores, upscale dining to authentic global cuisine.

Major Shopping Destinations:

West Plano:

• Legacy West - Upscale open-air district with luxury retailers (Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tesla), trendy restaurants, Legacy Hall food hall, and nightlife

• Shops at Legacy - Adjacent to Legacy West, offers additional retail and dining

• Shops at Willow Bend - Traditional indoor mall with Neiman Marcus, Dillards, and the Crayola Experience

Central/East Plano:

• Park & Preston Corridor - Back-to-back shopping centers with Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Target, Sam's Club, Home Depot, countless restaurants

• Historic Downtown Plano - Boutiques, antiques, local shops, coffee houses

• Collin Creek Redevelopment (coming soon) - New retail and dining in East Plano

You'll find every major chain: Kroger, Tom Thumb, Walmart, Costco, Target, Best Buy, and more—usually within 10 minutes of home. Specialty grocers include Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, H-Mart, 99 Ranch Market (Asian), and two massive H-E-B stores.

Dining Scene:

Plano's cultural diversity creates one of DFW's most acclaimed food scenes:

• Asian cuisine: Chinese hot pot, dim sum, Korean BBQ, Japanese sushi, Vietnamese pho, Indian curries (Spring Creek & Coit area known as "Little India")

• Latin American: Authentic Mexican taquerias, Tex-Mex favorites

• Mediterranean & Middle Eastern: Persian kebabs, Lebanese, Greek

• American & Texas staples: Texas BBQ, steakhouses (Del Frisco's, Fleming's), burgers (Shake Shack, In-N-Out)

• Upscale dining: Nobu, Ocean Prime, Haywire, North Italia, Sixty Vines

Nightlife & Entertainment:

• Legacy Hall (food hall by day, live music venue by night)

• Granite Park Boardwalk (waterside dining and bars)

• Downtown Plano bars (The Fillmore Pub, Vickery Park, Lockhart Smokehouse)

• Breweries: Union Bear Brewing, Unlawful Assembly Brewing

Entertainment:

• Multiple movie theaters (Cinemark West Plano, Angelika Film Center, Studio Movie Grill)

• Pinstack, Main Event (bowling, arcade, dining)

• TopGolf (Plano/Allen border)

• Go Ape Treetop Adventure at Oak Point Park

Plano provides a one-stop-shop lifestyle—you can live, work, shop, dine, and play all within city limits. Many joke you could survive in Plano for months without ever leaving, and that's largely true.

Safety: Plano ranks among America's safest cities, with crime rates at a 30-year low. In 2024, Plano was ranked the #5 safest city in the U.S. Residents consistently cite feeling safe walking in neighborhoods, parks, or shopping areas at any time.

Plano Police Department:

• Well-staffed, community-oriented policing model

• Officers assigned to specific neighborhoods

• Modern tech including camera networks and real-time crime center

• Mental health crisis team

• Community programs: National Night Out, Citizens Police Academy

Plano Fire-Rescue:

• Top ISO-1 rating (highest fire protection rating)

• Average emergency response times of just a few minutes

• All firefighters are trained paramedics

• CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training for residents

Healthcare: Plano has excellent medical facilities within city limits:

• Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano

• Medical City Plano (Level 1 Trauma Center)

• Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano

• Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano (nationally ranked cardiology)

• Children's Medical Center Plano

Access to world-class healthcare is minutes away for any emergency or specialty care.

Community Engagement:

Plano residents are notably engaged and civically active:

• Volunteers in Plano (VIP) program coordinates community service opportunities

• Strong neighborhood associations and HOAs organizing events

• Annual community events: Plano Balloon Festival, Plano International Festival, Dickens in Downtown (holiday event)

• High volunteerism and philanthropy (North Texas Giving Day, Love Where You Live initiative)

Diversity & Inclusion: Plano's population is culturally diverse (43% white, 26% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 8% Black, rest mixed). The city actively promotes inclusion through multicultural festivals, interfaith collaboration, and community dialogues. You'll find places of worship for virtually every faith tradition.

Community Character: Despite being a city of nearly 290,000, Plano maintains a strong sense of community. Neighbors know each other, schools foster involvement, and there's shared pride in Plano's "City of Excellence" reputation. It's common to run into someone you know at the grocery store or see families gathering at parks for birthdays and celebrations.

Plano offers the rare combination of big-city amenities with suburban safety and small-town community spirit.