Census Bureau report determines that most affluent city in the U.S. is Plano

Lisa Lawrence Merritt, says:

"Jeez, then how is that Plano-ites come off as a bunch of middle-class tightwads?"

Because Plano has no Soul, is void and lacks imagination.

I would just as soon slit my own throat than reside there.

Jason Rice, says:

I'm soulless and devoid of imagination.

I'm cool with it.

I have an extra straight razor around for hobby stuff if you need it.

Tracy Yost, says:

I moved to Plano the late nineties because it was convenient to my place of employement, and so that my children could attend "good schools". I don't live there anymore simply because it's not convenient, but I must say, I miss some things about living there - like: low crime, city-sponsored recycling, a clean sam's club (as opposed to the really nasty one on samuel ave. that is closest to me now)... not to mention the house, the likes of which I will never be able to afford in Lakewood. It seems that the definition of "affluence" has to do with "bang-for-your-buck" - that doesn't seem so bad to me :-)

It is also a fact that Plano ranks VERY very high in churches per capita so maybe that accounts for the lack of soul ;-)

Lisa Lawrence Merritt, says:

Jason:

It's ok, I don't need to use your razor because I will never live in Plano.

Btw, a "clean Sam's Club?"

Jason Rice, says:

Just trying to help.

Yep - clean Walmart too. Faustus got wisdom and fame, we got clean discount stores.

It's all about the upfront negotiations with that crew.

Collin Gouldin, says:

not all of them are clean ... (cough) east plano (/cough)

Jason Rice, says:

We blame that on Murphy. They can't defend themselves so we kick them when they look away.

Joel Woiton, says:

Median income of only $84,492! Who's bringing the average down?

Collin Gouldin, says:

(east plano)

Scott Doyle, says:

Apparently not growing up in Dallas or Ft. Worth proper = no soul. So be it, imo.

Not that I'm defending peeps chasing the Jones's...but jfc, what the hell is there in Dallas that's affordable without worrying about seedy neighbors?

Brett Hoerner, says:

What gives Lake Highlands any more soul than Plano? They're both a bunch of houses smashed together to me. Until you're in or right around downtown it all feels like suburbia.

And I don't think Scott said anything about immunity, but I think if you compared stats between Lake Highlands and equivalently priced areas of Plano you might be surprised. /shrug

Brad LaRock, says:

Go easy on Murphy. We've got our own angles there. Plano, Richardson, Wylie, Sachse, Garland and Parker have us surrounded. We don't need anymore help. I am convinced that there are few neighborhoods with "soul". Brett nailed it. Anything north of Bush is a sea of shingles. Top two things to do in the metroplex...shop and eat. Top two things people don't do in the metroplex...know their neighbors and get involved in the town they live in. Take a chance, walk next door and ask your neighbor what you can do for them. Now that takes some soul.

Tevi lawson, says:

&lt;<top a="" and="" ask="" can="" chance,="" do="" don't="" door="" eat.="" for="" get="" in="" in.="" involved="" live="" metroplex...know="" metroplex...shop="" neighbor="" neighbors="" next="" now="" people="" some="" soul="" take="" takes="" that="" the="" their="" them.="" they="" things="" to="" top="" town="" two="" walk="" what="" you="" your="">&gt;

I could not agree more with you, Brad! Let's hope that it changes soon with the growing diversity of folks moving in from more "sociable" parts of the country.Provided that us dallasites allow our shells to be broken so that we can step out of our comfort zone...and give this great city more "soul", more "vibrant life".</top>

Joel Woiton, says:

What's so bad about East Plano? If Plano has any "soul" it resides in the older East Plano. Apparently, soul takes time to mature. Homes need to be re-sold several times and commercial space need to be on their 3rd or 4th different business venture to have any soul. The brand new west side Plano is completely void of soul.

And about Murphy, it should be a nice town when they finish building it. Check back in ten years

Jason Rice, says:

Frankly, I'm just jealous of some of the great lots in Murphy near where a former boss of mine lives. I just hope you guys can keep some of that land Un-BestBuy/Home Depot-ed. Fight the good fight, Brad!

East Plano has some character and I really enjoy the Downtown. So much so, that we produce theater down there. You have a 50% chance of running into me on a weekend night, actually. Nice shops. Nice little Farmers' Market. Nice coupla pubs.

Oh, I mean "NO, it's awful down there... terrible... you'd hate it. Don't go there."

Scott Doyle, says:

Downtown is considered east Plano?

Anyways, speaking of being neighborly, it kills me on the inside that Highland Park has devolved so much. My grandparents have one of the last original homes from original development in their area, and I remember going to the annual block party when I was a kid. Pretty sure they stopped the block party long ago and their new neighbors (who tore down other original houses to build McMansions) are disgusted that a one-story house still exists on their street.

Jason Rice, says:

I think I need to introduce lakewooder to some Plano friends of mine.

The Samaritan Inn

Crossroads Family Services

CITY House

The Giving Movement

It's nice to simplify and generalize and Plano has it's faults, but it also has poverty and need and people doing a lot to combat it. If there is grain, there is chaff. You didn't get left holding the bag. Plano was poor with phenomenally low grades when your "white flight" began and that didn't just vanish in a puff of wishful thinking. People are working every minute of every day on it.

Scott Doyle, says:

Plan is to buy something affordable near Plano's downtown rail stations so I can have the best of both worlds!

Jason Rice, says:

x*x - Ya gotta leave the security of the frontage roads up in dangerous Plano. Bud, I have a French restaurant up here I'll put up against anything you wanna bring on ;o) Oooh and Aparicio's... and Country Burger.... Oh may oh my Picasso's for family Italian.

Man I oughta drag all you guys around for a Saturday. It's just like anything new to you - it looks scary from the outside.

Jason Rice, says:

Poor Richards!! Oh man Alex - yeah you put me to absolute shame with that. Zander's!

yeah -- Alex is better at this.

Brett Hoerner, says:

*Or you can just hang out in Plano and pretend nothing in Dallas is affordable and it's all crime ridden. Whatevs.*

Well someone's feeling all shmancy pants about living in Dallas, aren't they? I'm with Alex, assuming that everything North of 635 is a chain is just silly. But whatever makes you feel cool and hip, bromeister!

Collin Gouldin, says:

i prefer JC's to Country Burger...<br> and Joel, you asked what was bringing down the median household income, and i replied east Plano. Most things East of 75, while nice and homey as they may be, are not as high dollar as the houses, people, and places in central and west Plano.

Jason Rice, says:

Ok, Collin - you have out-cooled me yet again.

JC's? Point me there.

Brett Hoerner, says:

Come on Jason, it's right by Henry's Homemade Ice Cream ... a great non-chain ice cream place in Plano. (NO WAY!)

http://www.pegasusnews.com/places/jcs...

Collin Gouldin, says:

yup, you can get a great burger and milkshake in the same place! (the bring over Henry's ice cream for them).

Donna Chen, says:

Wait til Frisco reaches this population...

Collin Gouldin, says:

ive never seen houses in frisco that come close to the size or cost of the houses in west plano (willow bend)... but maybe I'm just missing them.

Jason Rice, says:

Brett - yes way! I checked Peg and could not for the life of me remember anything but Henry's and Jumptown. I ran by the on the way home because despite a zillion birthday parties and regular fixes of Dinosaur Egg ice cream (how do they get that much blue in anything???) -- I had somehow missed it.

Burger with a Henry's shake? Official "no brainer"

Scott Doyle, says:

xdwx, point me to some.

Scott Doyle, says:

Lake Highlands homes are not only significantly higher priced per SF compared to similar sized homes I'm considering in south Plano, they're much older...meaning I'd likely have to drop a lot more in maintenance costs.

Friend of mine here at work just moved over there a couple of months ago and is already bitching about how much he's sunk into repairing/replacing basically the everything (flooring, wiring, some plumbing). He initially tried convincing me to look in same area but has since conceded that overall headache of an older home with a higher mortgage may not be worth the location.

I certainly dig the neighborhood, but not all that hassle. Also, I work in Richardson, so my commute doesn't factor in much...location would simply be for play.

To each his own.

Scott Doyle, says:

Many? From what I've seen, it's $200k+ unless you're the Jesus of handymen.

http://tinyurl.com/68vcz3

That's your $150k max, not exactly many options...certainly not comparable to what is available in the burbs, imo.

Scott Doyle, says:

xdwx, know of any sites that focus on home-buying in that area then? Like I said, definitely dig it...was simply under the impression it'd be a couple hundred grand on top of heightened maintenance costs.

Many homes here are 130k to 150k for 1600 to 2000 sq ft

If that's truly the case, help a guy out here!

Collin Gouldin, says:

"At least when I say I live in East Plano, people know what I'm talking about. " <br><br> and then cringe...

Jason Rice, says:

Alex - Don't forget Highland Village.

And x*x, I like the arts up here and the rec centers are great and the schools are pretty neighborly. I've lived near Garland and in Oak Lawn and that's about it Dallas-wise, so no I'm not an expert.

I'm not gonna brag about it, but I'm used to being generalized as bland and boring. There is statistical safety in blending - demographic camouflage ;o)

Scott Doyle, says:

Lots of pier and beam foundations is definitely a plus of Lake Highlands. I wouldn't mind improvements nearly as much if I could get the place for $150k or less.

This will be my first home, and I'm pretty damn frugal when it comes to fluctuating cost of anything...so I'm probably looking at ~1,600 SF for a lower energy bill (and less space in general to maintain, lol).

Also, ready access to Lower Greenville would support my inevitable drinking habit. Might be your neighbor when my lease is up. Please contain your excitement.

James Scott, says:

I guess it all depends on what you're looking for. I was able to get my house in (Southwest Lake Highlands?...I have no idea) for about $79 sqft about 4 years ago, it is an older home, but any money I've put into it has been purely cosmetic, besides a new air-conditioner to replace the 20+ yr old one. All of which is stuff I would have done on any home &gt; 20 yrs old. Ours just happens to be 50 yrs old, and is in pretty good shape all things considered.

Add to it being in a neighborhood with huge trees everywhere, and being less than a couple minutes from the lake and the rail, it's been a great place to live.

But like was said earlier, to each his own. But like xdav says (in summary), don't knock it till you try it - take a look at some of the homes here and their prices and you might be surprised. It's not like the M Streets or anything.

Scott Doyle, says:

Yeah, I'm inexplicably drawn to mature trees (<a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/blogs/pegasusnewsblog/2008/apr/11/singlegourmettre/#c24237">cougar</a> trees, if you will). Helped my friend move some crap in after he bought his place and immediately started asking rude questions like how much it ran him, homeowners association fees, etc.

Brett Hoerner, says:

*What do you guys do in Plano when you're not eating?*

I live in North Dallas, like you.

When I lived in Plano I would drive to the same locations you drive to from your just-like-the-suburbs neighborhood in Dallas... I don't really understand why you feel like you're a part of something or have it better off if you're still getting in your car and driving over to Uptown or Lower Greenville. Like Doyle (if I were interested in buying a house in DFW), I'd go look around downtown Plano for a house if I were looking. At least a few bars/restaurants within walking distance, along with the DART rail - for the win. To each their own.

Scott Doyle, says:

Dead to me!

Wasn't there discussion a few years ago about a Walnut Hill/Skillman rail station? Anything ever come of that?

Scott Doyle, says:

Ghostman, I already live in Dallas proper. Sucks to be you.

Also, damn. I thought Lake Highlands was basically just Old Lake Highlands and surrounding area that's actually near the lake (i.e. Walnut Hill and south).

Brett Hoerner, says:

I have the complex? Hahaha.

There's nothing wrong with North Dallas (did I ever say that?), I'm just saying it's not very different from Plano, especially inside the map you just linked. Just so's it's clear, I live and work inside that there map, I'm not just throwing out random words.

Scott Doyle, says:

Anyways.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&...

I thought the area marked on that map as Old Lake Highlands and Peninsula was basically Lake Highlands. Friend moved about 4 blocks from the lake in that area marked as Old Lake Highlands and I imagine it wasn't less than $100/SF...doubt much in that area is without being a ridiculous fixer-upper.