Are you considering moving to Allen, Texas? If so, you’re a few steps away from building roots in one of Texas’ most vibrant and lively cities.

Allen is a city located just north of Dallas with a population of around 100,000. It’s well known for its excellent school district, diverse job opportunities, and bustling shopping centers. But there are still some drawbacks to consider before making your decision.

Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of living in Allen – and see if this suburb of Dallas is a good fit for you and your family!

The city of Allen has a ton to offer! Here are some of the benefits of living in Allen, Texas:

Across a variety of factors, Allen is one of the safest cities in Texas and the United States. According to Dwellics , the city has been graded 83.3/100 for quality – that includes crime, water quality, air quality, and more. 

And with such a high score, Allen is not only a safe city – it’s a healthy one as well! The sheer number of parks, trails, and amenities make it a well-rounded place to live.

Being located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex allows residents to take advantage of all the events, attractions, and shopping this large metropolitan area offers. Allen is home to a ton of shopping centers, antique malls, outlet malls , and entertainment venues – all within minutes of anywhere in the city.

And the city has a lot to offer for nearly every appetite, from local eateries to big-name restaurants. (Make sure to check out The Blue Fish and Torchy’s Tacos !) And jump on the highway, and you can the airport and other cities in the Metroplex in no time.

While Allen doesn’t offer a beach view or a mountain experience, it does have lakes – and lots of them. You’ll find four big lakes not far from the city – Lewisville Lake, Lake Ray Hubbard, Grapevine Lake, and Lavon Lake.

These lakes provide plenty of opportunities for leisure activities such as fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking, and more. Plus, each lake has its own marina where you can rent boats and other watercraft to enjoy all that they have to offer.

Finally, we have to mention the Allen Independent School District, which has been ranked one of the best school districts in Texas multiple times. With an excellent curriculum and diverse student body, students have some of the best opportunities to succeed.

The district also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams that have won state championships. And outside of the school system, you’ll find other local sports leagues and organizations that offer kids a chance to develop their skills in sports such as football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and much more.

There are plenty of great reasons to make a move to the Allen, Texas, community. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t bring up just a few of the potential drawbacks.

Allen, Texas, is undoubtedly a fantastic place to live, but like any other location, it has its downsides, and the weather is undoubtedly one of them. The summer months in this area can be unbearably hot, especially in June, July, and August, when temperatures often spike above 90°F.

The sun is also intense during the summer months, which can make outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and running challenging and sometimes dangerous, given the risk of sunburn and heat exhaustion.

Another consideration is the severe winter weather that can lead to ice storms. While not occurring often, Texas does occasionally experience power grid issues during colder weather events or storms. However, taxpayer money is being reinvested into improving Texas’ infrastructure which helps counter some of the potential weather-related issues experienced by residents.

If you’re a fan of mountains or beaches, then you will be disappointed by Allen. The city is flat – and we mean really flat – with no hills in sight. If you head down toward the Gulf Coast, you will find plenty of beach in less than three hours, but that’s about as close to a mountain or beach as you’re going to get in Allen.

However, you can still find plenty of outdoor activities near Allen, such as fishing in the local lakes and rivers, camping, hiking along nature trails, and cycling. Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve also offer a scenic area with plenty of opportunities for bird-watching, nature photography, and more.

Another potential con of living in Allen, Texas, is the lack of public transportation options. You’ll need to head over to Plano to connect with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to get around the area.

The city does have Uber and Lyft available, as well as a few locally-owned taxi services. But for those who prefer taking public transportation to get around, Allen offers limited options. And for those who enjoy biking, you’ll find that Allen lacks dedicated bike lanes, making it challenging to find safe routes.

Allen is a great place to find affordable housing, but you’ll likely be looking in neighborhoods with dated or identical designs. That’s because the city – while growing in population – has not implemented much change in housing design over the past few years. 

The city doesn’t have a ton of new construction either, as it focuses on sustainability and zoning regulations. This may or may not be a con, depending on your preferences.

Allen, Texas, is a great place to call home. It’s close enough to Dallas for convenient access to the amenities of a major metropolitan area, yet it still maintains its small-town character and charm.

If you’re considering a move to Allen, we’d love to chat with you about what it has to offer. Our team at Living in Dallas loves to help people just like you learn more about the area so you can make an informed decision about where you’ll call home. Whether you are ready to make a move or are just starting out with your research, we’d love to hear from you and help!

Give us a call at 214-441-6684, shoot us an email, or schedule a Zoom call today to learn more about what Allen, Texas, has to offer!

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