Apartments for Rent in Plano, TX - 1,158 Rentals available

Renter's Guide to Plano

Plano is a Texas city just north of Dallas. It is located in both Collin and Denton Counties.
Plano is known for two things: Its affluent, suburban lifestyle, and the numerous corporations who call its city limits home. In previous years, Forbes has named it the No. 1 safest city in America, and Livability.com has listed it as one of the top 10 places for families multiple times.
Plano is an upscale, affluent suburb, so the city feels very organized, clean and orderly. The majority of Plano residents are families – many with children under 18.
Plano is the ninth most populous city in Texas and No. 70 in the entire U.S. with nearly 270,000 residents. At 71.6 square miles, it’s larger than many other nearby suburbs, including Allen, Frisco and McKinney.
From Dallas, Plano is about 20 miles – or a 30-minute drive. From Fort Worth, it’s a bit further, at 49 miles and 51 minutes.
Like most of Texas, Plano weather is generally very hot from May through September, with average high temperatures between 94 and 105. The rest of the year, highs are in the 60s to 80s, with a few sparse snow and ice days in the wintertime. Average rainfall in the city is about 41 inches per year.

Cost of Living in Plano, TX

As an affluent area, the cost of living in Plano is a little bit higher than both the national and the state averages.
Though Plano does not have its own public transit system, the city is a part of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, which consists of various buses, trains and rail lines throughout the Metroplex. DART prices range from $1.75 for a midday pass to $160 for a monthly pass, though most people choose to commute by personal vehicle instead.
A meal for two in a mid-range Plano restaurant would run you $40 to $50, while a regular cappuccino would cost about $4.45. One pint of draft beer would be around $5. Some of the top restaurants in Plano include Whiskey Cake, Fish Shack, and Jasper’s. For an authentic German dining experience, check out Bavarian Grill, one of the highest-rated German restaurants in Texas.
Utility costs in Plano run around $151.39 a month for a 915 square-foot apartment. These are a small amount higher than the U.S. average ($147), likely due to the high AC costs required for cooling in the summer.

Living in Plano

Living in Plano is a little expensive, but for those extra costs, you get access to top restaurants, shopping and entertainment, great real estate and highly-rated schools. It’s also very close to both Dallas and Fort Worth, which can make for an easy commute.

Plano has some serious advantages for its residents. For one, it’s a great place to raise children. With low crime rates, good schools and plenty of activities, kids can easily get the guidance they need to see success in life. It’s also home to a great economy, so jobs are easy to come by, and there’s tons to do, see and eat.

On the negative side, the local roads do get a bit crowded, so traffic can get hectic in the mornings and during afternoon commutes. Plano’s in-demand school district is also very full, so it can be a little competitive – even for advanced students.

Things to do in Plano

One of the best things about Plano is the sheer amount of opportunities it offers – for fun, for education, and even for your health.

One of the city’s main attractions is the Southfork Ranch, the filing location of the once-popular Dallas TV show. Still in operation today, you can tour the ranch or even host events there. The city is also home to numerous parks, including Carpenter Park, High Point Park, and Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, a 200-acre park with a playground, trails, an observation tower and more. The Plano Dog Park is another top spot if you’ve got a furry friend, and if you’re into shopping you’re in luck: The Shops at Willow Bend, the Colin Creak Mall and The Shops at Legacy are all great options.

Because Plano is a family-oriented city, there are tons of things to do with kids in the area. Main Event offers laser tag, bowling and an arcade, while the Plano Super Bowl is a great option for a game of 10-pin. For more active fun, try Jump Mania, where the kids can trounce on a variety of bounce house, or Jump Street, an indoor trampoline park for the whole family.

For history buffs, the Interurban Railway Museum is a great choice. This unique museum lets you learn about the history of the Texas Electric Railway in an interactive (and free!) way. Historic Downtown Plano is also a good stop for some free fun. Browse the one-of-a-kind stores and boutiques, or stop in for a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants.

Date nights are easy in Plano, thanks to the many movie theaters in the area. Try the Studio Movie Grill, the Cinemark Legacy or the Cinemark 10. Want something more active? Hold hands and step back in time at the Thunderbird Roller Rink.

There are two big annual events in Plano: The Plano Balloon festival, which fills the skies with thousands of hot air balloons every September, and Dark Hour Haunted House, a Halloween thrill the locals love.
Culture abounds in Plano. Just check out the Plano Children’s Theatre, the Chamberlain School of Ballet or the International Conservatory of Performing Arts to see for yourself. There’s also the Plano Symphony Orchestra, which performs September through April.

Working in Plano

Plano has a bustling and successful economy. Dozens of big-name corporations call the city home, including Cinemark Theaters, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Frito Lay, Ericsson, Hewlett Packard, J.C. Penney, Pizza Hut, Rent-a-Center, Siemens and Toyota Motors. Its main industries are manufacturing, technology, defense and electronics.

Education in Plano

Students in Plano primarily attend schools in the Plano ISD, which boasts 10 high schools – three of which were listed on Newsweek’s Best National High Schools list. The district has a 93-percent graduation rate. There are also 16 private schools in the area, as well as two campuses of the Collin County Community College system.

Tips for Renting in Plano

Under Texas state law, all Plano renters are protected from landlord retaliation, meaning they are legally allowed to complain to the landlord or to the city about unsafe conditions and they have the right to sue without fear of rising rates or being evicted.

If you’re moving to Plano from New Jersey, you may be surprised by your security deposit. While New Jersey limits these costs to one month’s rent max, there is no limit set for these deposits in Texas.