City Town Info

Plano, Texas


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Plano, Texas

Introduction to Plano

Plano, Texas has a rapidly growing population and a lot to offer its residents. The city’s economy is thriving and the city government is interested in forming successful partnerships with local businesses. There are a number of large corporations calling Plano home, including JC Penny, EDS, Frito-Lay, Alcatel, and Dr. Pepper. Plano has internationally-recognized Police and Fire Departments, as well as an abundance of open space and parkland, award-winning schools, and easy access to regional airports. CNN Money chose Plano as its top place to live in the Western United States in 2004. It is the only city in Texas with a “AAA” Bond Rating from three of the country’s top bond rating companies.

Plano Culture

The Municipal Art Galleries of Plano encourage the arts and provide a venue for artists in the city. The galleries accept children’s and student’s art, and the exhibits last for one month. Plano has an impressive Courtyard Theater in its Haggard Park Historic District, and the Cox Gymnasium, started as a 1938 Works Progress Administration project, is a good example of the city’s cultural heritage. The city has an organization called Gotta Dance, which offers classes for children of all ages in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance techniques. There are a number of festivals and other events that take place every year in Plano, including Arbor Day, the Big Tex Cat Show, the Fall Home and Garden Show, Picnic in the Park Concert Series, and the Very Special Arts Festival.

Plano Sports and Leisure

Plano has a wide variety of sports facilities to offer its residents, including fields, ice, and courses. They host many amateur and non-traditional sporting events with the help of their well-developed sports support infrastructure. There’s the Dallas Cowboys Football & Texas Stadium, which offers tours and behind-the-scenes views of a popular NFL team. There’s Dallas Mavericks basketball at the American Airlines Center. Pizza Hut Park is a 20,000-seat soccer stadium for area soccer fans. Roughriders Baseball, Dallas Stars Hockey, and Dallas Sidekicks Soccer all add up to plenty of spectator sports opportunities. The Texas Motor Speedway and the Mesquite Championship Rodeo and Exhibit Hall offer other recreational activities for residents.

Plano Outdoors

The city has six recreation centers and many golf courses, such as Chase Oaks, Los Rios, and Pecan Hollow. Chase Oaks ranks in the top 100 courses in the country and has a driving range, pro shop, and restaurant. Los Rios is a semi-private course and is open to the public during non-peak times. Pecan Hollow is an 18-hole, par 72 course nestled in groves of pecan and oak trees. Plano has two area lakes that provide residents with a variety of water-based activities. The city also has an extensive network of greenbelts and parks within the city that include over 40 miles of recreational trails.

Plano at Night

There are many things to do in Plano when the sun goes down. One example is the Courtyard Theatre, a popular venue for many types of performing arts. The theatre is located in a renovated historic downtown building, and it supports entertainment such as national art exhibits, vocal performances, and theatre companies. For those looking for something a little louder, there’s Plano’s nightlife scene. A great example of this is Plano’s Love and War in Texas, an epic restaurant that promotes Texas food and heritage.

Of Note

High Points

Plano strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Texas):

CategoryTrophy
Median Family Income
(vs. Peers)
Top 1%trophyPlano Median Family Income
Low Rate of Poverty
(vs. Peers)
Top 2%trophyPlano Low Rate of Poverty
People in Middle Class or Better
(vs. Peers)
Top 2%trophyPlano People in Middle Class or Better
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. Peers)
Top 3%trophyPlano Well-Paid Single Men
College Educated Adults
(vs. Peers)
Top 3%trophyPlano College Educated Adults
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. Peers)
Top 5%trophyPlano Well-Paid Single Women
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)
Top 8%Plano Public Transportation Use
Low Violent Crime
(vs. Peers)
Top 11%Plano Low Violent Crime

Comparative Profile of Plano, TX

Comparing Plano to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Texas (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Well-Paid Single Men1010
Well-Paid Single Women1010
Children Under 5 Years Old98
Male Share of the Population88
Age of the Population85
Racial Diversity47
Female Share of the Population33
Senior Citizens11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Portion of People Married108
Average Household Size86

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Median Family Income1010
People in Middle Class or Better1010
People Above Poverty109
College Educated Adults1010

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Working at Home1010
Short Commute Times33
Public Transportation Use110
Walking and Biking to Work17

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Housing Recently Built1010
Seasonal and Vacation Housing33
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals29
People Living Alone24
Affordability of Rents11
Affordability of Property Taxes11

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime95
Low Property Crime85

Detailed pages on related topics: Plano collegesPlano travelPlano mortgages and property.

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Additional Details

Plano CollegesPlano Colleges
Plano colleges and trade schools.
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Plano MortgagePlano Mortgage
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