Richardson vs West Plano
Pick Richardson for rail access (DART or TEXRail) and more home for the money. Pick West Plano for more shopping, dining and things to do. Typical home values run $384,000 to $547,000 in Richardson and $546,000 to $738,000 in West Plano, by ZIP code (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026).
| Richardson | West Plano | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, by ZIP | $384,000 to $547,000 | $546,000 to $738,000 |
| Citywide value trend, past year | +0.6% (Richardson) | -3.3% (Plano) |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$ |
| Home types | Single-family (mid-century ranch), Townhome, Urban near CityLine | Single-family, Townhome, Condo/urban (Legacy) |
| Home age | Mostly 1950s–1980s, with newer infill and urban product at CityLine | Mostly 1980s–2000s; urban product at Legacy West and Legacy Town Center |
| Lots | Generous mid-century lots with mature trees | Established suburban lots with mature trees |
| HOA | Many neighborhoods have no mandatory HOA | Mix of mandatory and voluntary HOAs; many older sections have light or no HOA |
| School districts | Richardson ISD, Plano ISD (north Richardson) | Plano ISD |
| Property tax rate (2025, total) | 1.88% to 2.18% | 1.71% |
| Drive to Downtown Dallas | ~19 min 14 mi | ~32 min 23 mi |
| Drive to Legacy West (Plano) | ~22 min 16 mi | ~8 min 3 mi |
| Drive to DFW Airport | ~34 min 23 mi | ~37 min 25 mi |
| Drive to Downtown Fort Worth | ~51 min 44 mi | ~56 min 46 mi |
| Major roads | US 75, PGBT, DART Red/Orange Line, DART Silver Line | DNT, SH 121, PGBT, US 75 |
| Nearby | CityLine, UT Dallas, Breckinridge Park, Canyon Creek, Galatyn Park | Legacy West, Legacy Town Center, Shops at Willow Bend, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve |
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026. Tax rates: 2025 tax rates per $100 of value, from Republic Title's 2025 DFW Area Tax Rates (compiled from county appraisal districts). County column includes county, community college and hospital districts where they apply. Excludes MUD/PID and special districts, and is before homestead exemptions. Drive times: Off-peak drive estimates from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), measured from each area's center on 2026-10-21. Rush hour is often much longer. School districts vary by street, so verify by address.
Richardson
Richardson offers mid-century homes on big leafy lots, great transit and quick access to Dallas, at prices below the Collin County new-build belt.
Strengths
- Excellent transit and highway access
- Mid-century character and mature trees
- More central than far-north suburbs
Tradeoffs
- Older homes often need updates
- Little new construction
- Mixed ISD boundaries; verify by address
West Plano
Established, centrally located and close to big employers. You get mature neighborhoods without a far-north commute.
Strengths
- Central to North Dallas job centers
- Mature trees and established neighborhoods
- Walkable pockets at Legacy
Tradeoffs
- Older homes may need updating
- Limited new construction
- Competitive pricing near Legacy
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