Allen, Texas Pros and Cons – What You Need to Know
Allen, Texas is a popular town people are flocking to. But what’s so special about it?
With a population of over 100,000 people and growing every day, this northern suburb of Dallas is only about 20 miles from downtown Dallas.
And that’s only one of the many benefits of living in Allen. It also has various options for shopping, a range of home prices to fit any budget, and an amazing golf course. It’s also close to a few lakes if you like boating, fishing, or swimming.
It’s the fourth largest city in Collin County and is considered one of the safest places to live.
So if you’re considering making Allen home, here are the pros and cons to know about before making the final decision.
The Pros of living in Allen, Texas
Here’s a list of some of the pros of living in Allen and some of the reasons why it’s so popular:
- There is no state income tax
- Everything you’d want in a town is either in Allen or nearby, including shopping, restaurants, and the airport
- The airport is only about 30 miles away
- It has various recreational places for everyone
- It’s home to two award-winning golf courses – golf lovers love it here!
- It has 67 parks and trails and almost 80 miles of bike and hiking trails
- It’s ideal for people who love to go to the lake
- It has a low cancer occurrence and a lower mortality rate
- The literacy rate is high
- Educational standards are higher in Allen than in other parts of the country. And elementary and middle schools have higher proficiency in Math and English
- Allen has produced several Spelling Bee and National STEM competition finalists
Safety in Allen, Texas
Most people place safety high on their priority list when looking for a new home. Allen is considered one of the safest cities in the country.
In fact, Dwellics analytics team has assigned Allen, Texas a score of 83.3 out of 100 for safety. This takes into consideration air quality, water quality, crime rates, natural disaster frequency, substance abuse rates, cancer instances, and more.
But further than being a safe place to live, it’s also a healthier place to live. Interestingly, Allen has the lowest cancer instances in the United States. And substance abuse is the lowest in the country as well.
Everything You Need Is Nearby
Shopping centers and a large mall are located in Allen, Texas. People come from all over the Dallas area to go to the mall in Allen. Any kind of shop you need is nearby, ranging from grocery, clothing, electronics, and everything in between.
There are also many great restaurants in Allen. It has dine-in and takeout restaurants. Here are some favorites of the locals:
● Sunview Cafe
● Uncle Julio’s
● Village Burger Bar
● Torchy’s Tacos
● The Cheesecake Factory
● The Blue Fish
The Dallas Fort Worth International airport is only about 30 miles from Allen. What’s great about living in the central time zone is that to go east, west or north usually only takes a 2-3 hour flight. So if you travel a lot for work or go on vacation, Allen makes it easier.
And golf? Allen has that covered. There are two award-winning golf courses in Allen: The Courses at Watters Creek and The Golf Club at Twin Creeks.
These two golf courses provide for any level golfer and make a perfect golf experience.
It’s great for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Allen is near 4 different lakes, all within 10-30 minutes. So if you like boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing or any other water sport, Allen is the perfect place to live. Lavon Lake is the closest and also has a lot of nature trails surrounding it to hike or bike. There are also Lewisville Lake, Lake Ray Hubbard, and Grapevine Lake nearby.
There are also many parks in Allen. 67 to be exact! Here are a few of them:
- Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium – an enclosed waters park with a huge pool and rock climbing wall
- Hydrous – a wakeboard complex located in the Allen station park
- Allen’s Celebration Park – a huge space for games like soccer and baseball and has a playground, horseshoes, picnic areas, hiking trails and more
- Golfing at Watter Creek – a huge golf course with 33 holes, a driving range, banquet facilities, and more
Want more information about all the parks in Allen, Texas?
Educational Standards Are High
Allen holds a high value on education and its educational standards are much higher according to Allen EDC than other parts of the country. And Niche schools review gave it an A+ rating and placed the school system in Allen #8 in the state of Texas.
90.5% of Allen graduates go on to higher education and students in Allen, Texas get 176 points higher on their SAT scores than the national average.
Elementary and middle schools have a higher proficiency in Math and English. As a matter of fact, Allen has produced Spelling Bee and National STEM competition finalists.
The literacy rate is high; the standards are high; the test scores are high; and the proficiency is high. In short, the education is phenomenal.
What’s more, the high school in Allen, Texas puts a huge value on sports. There are more than 100 students competing in 25 different sports each year. They have a tradition of winning and work to excel in sportsmanship, teamwork, scholarship, competition, and community.
Some of the sports they participate in are basketball, volleyball, baseball, track and field, soccer, cross country, tennis, wrestling, swimming, and football.
The Cons of living in Allen, Texas
Like any other city, there are some downsides to Allen, Texas. Here are some cons of living in Allen:
- Extreme heat in the summer
- There is a chance of severe storms and tornadoes
- There is limited public transportation
Weather in Allen, Texas
The weather is optimal in Allen…most of the year. But it does get pretty toasty in the summer months. It averages about 95 degrees or more with humidity, which is uncomfortable for most people.
Add in the possibility of experiencing a tornado and that doesn’t equate to the best weather conditions. In fact, Allen has historically had 124 tornadoes ranked level 2 or higher.
Allen also has a high risk for severe storms. But luckily the hot weather only lasts a few months of the year and tornadoes don’t grace Allen all that often. It’s an ideal place to live for anyone not wanting to shovel snow or scrape their windshield in winter.
Lack of Public Transportation
Some cities heavily rely on public transportation. Not Allen. And that’s something to be aware of. If you visit or move to Allen, you will most likely need your own vehicle to get around.
This can be a drawback for some people. But Allen has a tight-knit community and carpooling to work or school could be an option for some.
Either way, having your own vehicle is definitely something to consider, especially if you are coming from a city with great public transportation.
In Conclusion
Is Allen a great place to live? Yes! It stands out among most cities for its variety of shopping, restaurants and recreation. It places a high value on great education and has a tight-knit community.
With exception to summer, the weather is optimal most of the year. And it’s one of the safest cities in the US.
Without a doubt, if you choose to move to Allen, Texas, you will fall in love with it.
If you have any questions, contact us today
to chat about Allen or any of the surrounding areas.
The post Allen, Texas Pros and Cons – What You Need to Know appeared first on Living in Dallas Texas Team.
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