In 2005, Plano was designated the best place to live in the Western United States by CNN Money magazine. In 2006, Plano was selected as the 11th best place to live in the United States by CNN Money magazine. In addition to its many industries and good-quality living, Plano has excellent schools that consistently score in the top few percent of the nation, and has been rated as the wealthiest city in the United States by CNN Money [2]with a poverty rate of under 6.4%. In 2008, Forbes.com selected Plano along with University Park and Highland Park as the three "Top Suburbs To Live Well" of Dallas. In addition, The United States Census Bureau declared Plano the wealthest city of 2008 by comparing the median household income for all U.S. cities whose populations were greater than 250,000.
As of the census of 2000, there were 222,030 people, 80,875 households, and 60,575 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,102.4 people per square mile (1,197.8/km²). There were 86,078 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8/sq mi (464.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.26% White, 5.02% Black, 0.36% Native American, 10.18% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.86% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.07% of the population.
Census figures from 2006 show a marked change in the racial composition of Plano, with increases in the percentages of Black (6.1%), Asian (14.7%), and Hispanic (14.4%) residents and a decrease in the percentage of White residents (75.6%).
There were 80,875 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $84,492, and the median income for a family was $101,616. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over making less than $59,873.
Plano was the highest income place with a population of 130,000 or more in 2000.
Plano was ranked the most affluent city with a population over 250,000 in the United States with the lowest poverty rate of 6.3%. Its neighbor, Frisco, was ranked the richest city for the population of under 250,000 in the United States with a 2.7% poverty rate. In 2007, Plano also had the highest median income of a city with a population exceeding 250,000 in the nation at $84,942.
According to crime statistics there were 4 homicides in Plano in 2006, the lowest homicide rate of all U.S. cities of 250,000 or more population
Plano is one of 12 suburbs in the Dallas area that opts into the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) public transportation system. During most of its membership in DART, Plano was lightly served by bus lines, but in recent years, the Red Line of the DART light rail project has opened stations in Downtown Plano and at Parker Road which provide access to commuters traveling to work elsewhere in the Dallas area.
Plano was the first of many cities in Collin County to adopt a master plan for their road system. The use of wide, multi-lane, divided highways for all major roads allows for higher speed limits on those thoroughfares, generally 40 or 45 mph but sometimes up to 55 mph (89 km/h) on the northern section of Preston Road, and due to this, concerns for pedestrian safety have arisen.
Plano is served directly by several major roadways and freeways. Central Plano is bordered to the East by U.S. Highway 75, the West by Dallas North Tollway, the South by President George Bush Turnpike, and the North by SH 121 (which is currently under construction to be made into a toll road). Preston Road or State Highway 289 is also a major thoroughfare that runs through the city.