Plano
RANK #986 / 996 NAT · #68 / 69 TX · POP 1,079,153
1YR FORECAST: -3.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: -2%
McKinney, the county seat of Collin County, offers a distinctive historic downtown area with 19th-century buildings, boutiques, and art galleries. Located just northeast of Dallas, Collin County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. Commutes to Dallas are common, and the community feel ranges from urban sophistication in cities like Plano and Frisco to a more rural atmosphere in towns such as Anna and Farmersville. The county features outdoor recreation opportunities like Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, offering trails, kayaking, and paddle boating, and Parkhill Prairie, a 436-acre preserve with Blackland tall-grass prairie.
Life in Collin County attracts families and professionals, drawn by highly-rated public schools and a range of housing options. The economy is experiencing significant growth, driven by corporate relocations, mixed-use developments, and infrastructure investments. This expansion includes major investments in technology, entertainment, and various other sectors, contributing to a strong job market. The county's population has surged, with cities like Princeton experiencing rapid growth.
Below national median (4.7x)
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing is fairly valued at 4.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Collin County Outer Loop (Segments 1 & 3, and overall plan)
Collin County
|
$2,000M | Under Construction |
|
CoreWeave Data Center
CoreWeave
|
$1,600M | Completed |
|
Collin County Campus Expansion Projects
Collin County
|
$1,438M | Under Construction |
|
Google Data Center (Red Oak, impacting North Texas)
Google
|
$600M | Under Construction |
|
Encore Wire Expansion
Encore Wire
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Mallard BESS Battery Storage Project
Peregrine Energy Solutions
|
$490M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Collin County scores just 0/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #986 of 996 counties. Job growth at +3.2% and median household income of $113,255 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Collin County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $411,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,689/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Collin County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.2% clip. Home values shifted -5.8% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.32% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Collin County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values fell -5.8% over the past year in Collin County, bringing the median down to $411,100. A drop of that magnitude usually reflects weakening demand or population outflow — worth watching if you're considering buying here.