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Frisco vs Plano: retirement compared

Frisco and Plano are neighboring cities in the Dallas and Northern Suburbs region, and each sits across the Collin and Denton county line. They differ in age and in housing. The Census Bureau's 2019-2023 American Community Survey counts 210,238 residents in Frisco, with a median age of 38.1 and 9.6 percent aged 65 and over, and 287,339 in Plano, with a median age of 39.3 and 14.1 percent aged 65 and over. Frisco's housing stock is mostly post-2000 and its one profiled 55+ option is Frisco Lakes. Plano's stock is more mature, it has a city recreation center for adults 50 and older, and it has no age-restricted community of its own on this site.

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Frisco and Plano at a glance

Figures come from each place page and name their own period; sources are listed on those pages.

MeasureFriscoPlano
Population (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)210,238287,339
Residents aged 65 and over (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)9.6%14.1%
Median age (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)38.139.3
Median home value (owner-occupied) (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)$595,400$440,600
Median gross rent (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)$1,902 per month$1,792 per month
Median household income (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)$146,158$108,649
Property tax context (tax year 2026)2026 rates per hundred dollars of taxable value (Collin County parcels): City of Frisco 0.425517; Collin County 0.151414; Frisco ISD 1.0194 (units overlap; exemptions differ, so the rates are not simply added)2026 rates per $100 of taxable value, Collin CAD table: City of Plano 0.4376000; Collin County 0.1514140; Collin College 0.0812200; Plano ISD 1.0327500 (units overlap; rates are not added)
Hospital accessThree hospital campuses operate in Frisco, including Texas Health Frisco at 12400 Dallas Parkway, which offers emergency services on a 24-hour basis (hospital system pages read October 2026)Medical City Plano, a 603-bed acute care facility and Level I Trauma Center at 3901 West 15th Street, is one of several hospitals inside the city (hospital system page read October 2026)
Airport access (airport page read October 2026)Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is the commercial airport the record names for Frisco; no drive time is statedDallas Fort Worth International Airport is the commercial airport named for the area; the airport sites do not publish drive times from Plano
55+ communities in our research10

Frisco vs Plano: the short answer

Frisco and Plano are neighboring cities in the Dallas and Northern Suburbs region, and each sits across the Collin and Denton county line. They differ in age and in housing. The Census Bureau's 2019-2023 American Community Survey counts 210,238 residents in Frisco, with a median age of 38.1 and 9.6 percent aged 65 and over, and 287,339 in Plano, with a median age of 39.3 and 14.1 percent aged 65 and over. Frisco's housing stock is mostly post-2000 and its one profiled 55+ option is Frisco Lakes. Plano's stock is more mature, it has a city recreation center for adults 50 and older, and it has no age-restricted community of its own on this site.

Three cautions apply throughout. First, the rates compared below are for tax year 2026, taken from the Collin Central Appraisal District's 2026 table and the City of Frisco's fiscal year 2027 rate page, which the city uses for tax year 2026; they describe Collin County parcels, and Denton County parcels in either city sit in a different set of units. Second, rates are reset every budget year, and a rate comparison is not a bill comparison, because the bill also depends on appraised value, exemptions and any special district. Third, hospital and community descriptions are the operators' own and are not quality ratings. For the statewide rules, see property taxes and appraisal districts and homestead and age-65 exemptions.

Full profiles: Frisco and Plano.

Which one fits you

Choose Frisco if

  • You want the larger city over-65 amount, $80,000 in the Collin Central Appraisal District's 2026 table against $40,000 for Plano, together with a city tax freeze for owners 65 and older that the City of Frisco has offered since January 1, 2022.
  • You want a lakeside 55+ resale community of more than 3,000 single-story homes with three amenity centers, Frisco Lakes, and you accept that it sits on the Denton County side, where the tax statements and rates are different from the Collin side.
  • You want three hospital campuses inside the city, run by three different systems, including a 98-bed Level III trauma center at Medical City Frisco Hospital.
  • You can accept a higher citywide price level, with a survey median owner-occupied value of $595,400 against $440,600 in Plano, and a younger population.

Choose Plano if

  • You want a lower citywide entry price, with a survey median owner-occupied value of $440,600 and median monthly owner costs of $2,654 for homes with a mortgage, against $595,400 and $3,246 in Frisco.
  • You want a city that runs its own recreation center for adults 50 and older, the Sam Johnson Recreation Center, and a senior resources page with programs such as My Safety Call, and you are content to age in place in an all-age suburb.
  • You want DART light rail in the city: the Orange Line serves Plano and links to the DFW Airport Station, and the city's senior page describes a reduced fare pass for riders 65 and older.
  • You value a city freeze option and a 20 percent homestead exemption with a smaller $40,000 over-65 amount, and a mature housing stock built mostly in the 1980s and 1990s, accepting that older homes may need roof and system updates.

Frisco and Plano: best for, and think twice if

Frisco

Best for

  • Buyers 55 or older who want a lakeside 55+ community and a city freeze: Frisco Lakes is on the east shore of Lake Lewisville, and the city offers an $80,000 over-65 exemption with a tax freeze effective 2022.
  • Buyers who want a choice of inpatient hospitals inside the city: Texas Health Frisco, the 98-bed Medical City Frisco and the 118-bed Baylor Scott & White Centennial are all in Frisco.
  • Buyers who want newer homes: 40.3 percent of units were built in 2010-2019 and 34.8 percent in 2000-2009, with 70.3 percent single-family detached.

Think twice if

  • Think twice if you want a simple tax bill: two appraisal districts and at least four school districts apply, with Frisco ISD at 1.0194 and Prosper ISD at 1.2141, so the school district drives the total.
  • Think twice if price matters: the median owner-occupied value is $595,400, the median owner cost with a mortgage is $3,246 a month, and the sources says Frisco is not an older-adult town.
  • Buyers who want a single-level home outside Frisco Lakes should shop deliberately: the sources says the rest of the market is largely two-story family housing, and April 2026 hail reached softball size in North Texas.

Plano

Best for

  • Buyers who want a city-run adult center and several hospitals: the Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+ and inpatient hospitals from three systems, including the 603-bed Medical City Plano, are inside Plano.
  • If a local tax freeze matters: the city offers a 20 percent homestead exemption with an optional over-65 freeze, and Collin County, Collin College and Plano ISD are marked as offering a freeze in the 2026 table.

Think twice if

  • Think twice if you want a gated 55+ community: the sources say Plano's housing is overwhelmingly all-age and that the city is not a destination for age-restricted living.
  • Older housing raises roof questions: 29.4% of units were built in the 1990s and 22.4% in the 1980s, and the April 2026 storms brought hail up to softball size across the metro.
  • A portion of Plano lies in Denton County, so some parcels use the Denton appraisal district and may fall in a different school district than Plano ISD at 1.03275; check the parcel before assuming a rate.

Each point restates facts from that place's own page and sources. It is not a rating.

Frisco and Plano side by side

DimensionFriscoPlano
City and four-unit rates, Collin County, tax year 2026The City of Frisco's rate page for fiscal year 2027 lists, for Collin County parcels, the City of Frisco at 0.425517 per $100 of taxable value, Collin County at 0.151414, Collin County Community College at 0.081220 and Frisco ISD at 1.019400. The Collin Central Appraisal District's 2026 table shows the same city and school figures. Where Prosper ISD territory applies, the city page lists that district at 1.214100 instead.The Collin Central Appraisal District's 2026 table lists the City of Plano with a maintenance and operations rate of 0.3136000, an interest and sinking rate of 0.1240000 and a total of 0.4376000, with Collin County at 0.1514140, Collin College at 0.0812200 and Plano ISD at 1.0327500, made up of 0.7954000 and 0.2373500. For example, the four rates add to 1.702984 per $100 for a Collin County parcel in Plano ISD and to 1.677551 for one in Frisco ISD, our arithmetic and before any special district. By our arithmetic Plano's total is higher by about 0.025433, driven by a higher city rate and a higher school rate. This is a like-for-like rate comparison for one year and one county, not a bill comparison.
Homestead, over-65 amounts and freeze flags, 2026The City of Frisco's tax administration page says the city offers a general homestead exemption of 20 percent with a $5,000 minimum, an additional $80,000 exemption for owners 65 or older or disabled and, effective January 1, 2022, a tax freeze for those owners. The 2026 Collin table agrees: 20.0 percent, an $80,000 over-65 amount and a freeze flag of Yes for the city, and the state $140,000 and $60,000 amounts with a freeze flag of Yes for Frisco ISD.The City of Plano's senior page says every homeowner can file for a homestead exemption that reduces taxable value by 20 percent, that homeowners 65 and older can file for an additional $40,000 exemption, and that seniors 65 and older have the option to freeze their property taxes. The Collin table shows 20.0 percent, a $40,000 over-65 amount and a freeze flag of Yes for the City of Plano, and the state $140,000 and $60,000 amounts with a freeze flag of Yes for Plano ISD. Collin County (5.0 percent, $30,000, with a freeze) and Collin College (20.0 percent, $100,000, with a freeze) are the same in both cities. Exemptions reduce taxable value and are not cash payments, and a freeze is a unit-by-unit, conditional ceiling, not a cap on all taxes at 65.
Appraisal districts and county linesFrisco crosses the Collin and Denton county line, and which side a parcel is on changes every unit. Collin Central Appraisal District, whose office is on Eldorado Parkway in McKinney, values the Collin parcels, and Denton Central Appraisal District, at 3911 Morse Street in Denton, values the Denton parcels. The city says an owner or the owner's agent must file any needed exemption form before May 1 of the tax year with the appraisal district that covers the parcel.The Census Bureau's 2020 place list gives Collin County and Denton County for Plano, so the appraisal district, county tax office and sometimes the school district depend on the parcel. A portion of Plano lies in Denton County, where Denton Central Appraisal District, which publishes its own exemptions page, appraises it. The city's senior page directs seniors to the Collin Central Appraisal District or the Denton Central Appraisal District for the application. Anyone buying near the county line should check the parcel before assuming a rate.
School districts and tax statementsProsper, Lewisville and Little Elm school districts each hold territory inside the city limits alongside Frisco ISD. The city page lists the Denton County side for tax year 2026 as the City of Frisco at 0.425517, Denton County at 0.183394, Frisco ISD at 1.019400, Lewisville ISD at 1.077800 and Little Elm ISD at 1.225200. The city says Denton County residents receive two statements, one from the Denton County tax collector for Lewisville ISD and Little Elm ISD and one from Collin County that bills the City of Frisco and Frisco ISD. Frisco Lakes is on the Denton County side.The Collin table lists Plano ISD for Collin County parcels, and a Plano parcel on the Denton side may fall in a different school district from the Collin side. The Collin rates above do not apply to a Denton County parcel in Plano, which needs its rates confirmed with the Denton Central Appraisal District and the Denton County tax office instead. Plano ISD also runs an RSVP program that gives residents 65 and older free access to school district performances and events.
Special districts, MUDs and management districtsThe Collin table lists 29 municipal utility districts and three management districts across the county, and none carries the City of Frisco's name, so the table cannot say whether a given Frisco lot is inside one. The tax statement and the seller's disclosures answer that, and for a Frisco Lakes address on the Denton County side the Denton statement and the association's resale certificate do. Where a district applies, it adds its own rate to the city, county, college and school rates.The same Collin table, with its 29 municipal utility districts and three management districts across the county, applies to Plano parcels in Collin County, and whether a particular Plano lot is inside one is answered by the tax statement and the seller's disclosures. Districts elsewhere in the table are listed with total rates of 0.8 to 1.2 per $100, for example Bainbridge MUD at 1.2000000, which shows how large a district charge can be when one applies.
Hospitals inside the cityThree campuses operate in Frisco. Texas Health Frisco, at 12400 Dallas Parkway, offers emergency services on a 24-hour basis and lists cardiology, orthopedic and spine care, and cancer care in collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Center. Medical City Frisco Hospital, at 5500 Frisco Square Boulevard and a campus of Medical City Plano, is described as a 98-bed acute care hospital with a Level III Trauma Center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Centennial, at 12505 Lebanon Road, describes itself as a 118-bed hospital open 24 hours.Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, at 6200 West Parker Road, has served Plano, Frisco, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson and McKinney since 1991 and states that it is designated a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Medical City Plano, at 3901 West 15th Street, describes itself as a 603-bed acute care facility with more than 1,800 physicians in over 70 specialties, Magnet recognized for nursing excellence and designated a Level I Trauma Center. Baylor Scott & White lists Medical Center - Plano at 4700 Alliance Boulevard and The Heart Hospital - Plano at 1100 Allied Drive. Which hospital is in network depends on the plan and changes every year; hospital pages are not quality ratings.
Airport access and transitThe Frisco Lakes association's location page describes a short drive to DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field, and the airport sites do not publish drive times from Frisco. DFW describes itself as offering 193 domestic and 77 international nonstop destinations. The service area DART lists, 12 cities, does not include Frisco, so rail is not a feature of the Frisco case.DART's facts page lists Plano among its 12 member cities. The Orange Line serves Dallas, Irving, Richardson and Plano and links the DFW Airport Station at its northwestern end with Parker Road Station at its northern end, though LBJ/Central Station is the northern terminal during off-peak hours, so the Plano end does not have the same service all day. DART says riders 65 and older are eligible for reduced fares, and its February 2026 fare announcement set the reduced regional day pass at $4.50 effective March 1, 2026. The airport sites do not publish drive times from Plano either.
HailThe National Weather Service Fort Worth office's review of storms from April 24 to 29, 2026 describes supercells with hail up to softball size crossing North Texas and the Metroplex overnight, and hail up to teacup size on April 27 across the middle of the Metroplex. A storm of that kind is not unique to one suburb. About 40.3 percent of Frisco's housing units were built between 2010 and 2019 and 34.8 percent between 2000 and 2009, so many roofs will reach replacement age together.The same review applies to Plano, so hail is a shared hazard rather than a difference between the cities. The Texas Department of Insurance advises filing a claim promptly after hail damage and avoiding contractors who offer to waive the deductible, which it says is illegal. Much of Plano's housing was built in the 1980s and 1990s, with 29.4 percent of units from the 1990s and 22.4 percent from the 1980s, so roof age and claims history deserve attention. Premiums are not quoted for either city.
Flood exposureFlood risk in Frisco is address-specific and insured separately. Properties near creeks or Lake Lewisville deserve a flood-map check before an offer. FEMA states that floods do not follow city limits or property lines, that its Flood Map Service Center is the official source for a community's flood map, and that most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Frisco Lakes sits on the east shore of Lake Lewisville, and lake and shoreline lots in particular deserve a map check.FEMA's statements apply to Plano in the same way. A map check for the specific address is the way to learn whether a parcel near a creek needs flood coverage, and no single risk label describes a city of this size. No flood-event count or floodplain share is cited for either city here, so no ranking of the two is possible; use the parcel's own flood-map status and an insurance quote.
Water supply and drought stagesThe North Texas Municipal Water District lists the City of Frisco among its member cities, and the District says it serves more than 2.4 million people across 2,200 square miles. The District is a wholesaler. It develops a model plan that member cities can adopt, and each member city decides and enforces its own restrictions for retail customers, so the current stage and watering schedule for a Frisco address come from the city.The District also lists the City of Plano as a member. Its 2024 Water Resource and Emergency Management Plan, which it describes as its drought contingency plan, sets three stages and notes significant droughts in 2005 through early 2007 and from late 2011 through early 2015. Because both cities buy from the same wholesaler, water supply does not separate them; check the City of Plano's current stage and watering schedule before moving.
Heat: one station serves bothNo official climate-normals station sits inside Frisco, so the figures use the National Centers for Environmental Information 1991-2020 normals for the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport station as a regional reference. The normal daily high averages 56.5 degrees Fahrenheit in January, 95.6 in July and 95.8 in August, and the January low is 36.1. Our arithmetic from the twelve monthly precipitation values gives about 37.01 inches for the year.Plano uses the same station and the same normals, which list 22.3 days in June, 28.7 in July and 27.6 in August at 90 degrees or more, 7.4 days in July and 9.7 in August at 100 or more, and 10.6 nights in January and 8.1 in December at or below 32 degrees. Because one station is the reference for both cities, climate does not separate them; cooling costs and power reliability are part of the budget in either. See the guide to hail, wildfire, drought, heat and outages.
55+ options and senior servicesFrisco Lakes describes itself as a 55+ active adult community of more than 3,000 single-story homes, listing 3,019 homes on about 900 acres and 5,000 active residents, on the east shore of Lake Lewisville in Denton County. It has three amenity centers totaling more than 40,000 square feet, more than 100 resident-led clubs and a seven-member elected board with professional management. The community is marketed as 55+; the recorded CC&Rs set the binding age rules, so obtain them and the resale certificate before relying on any rule.Plano is described as overwhelmingly all-age housing, and the 55+ community profiled on this site, Frisco Lakes, is in neighboring Frisco. What Plano offers is city services. The Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+, at 401 West 16th Street, lists a 2,800 square foot cardio and weight room, a billiards room, a Gazebo Cafe and the Wellness Center for Older Adults, with a daily non-member admission of $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents. The city also lists My Safety Call, a Senior Advisory Board and a pointer to Meals on Wheels of Collin County for adults 60 and up.
Age profile, income and housing, ACS 2019-2023The survey estimates 20,246 residents aged 65 and over, a median household income of $146,158, a median owner-occupied value of $595,400, median monthly owner costs of $3,246 with a mortgage and a median gross rent of $1,902, with 66.5 percent of occupied homes owner-occupied. It counts 77,787 housing units, 70.3 percent single-family detached and 19.7 percent in buildings of 20 or more units, and 4.6 percent built in 2020 or later.The survey estimates 40,531 residents aged 65 and over, a median household income of $108,649, a median owner-occupied value of $440,600, median monthly owner costs of $2,654 with a mortgage and a median gross rent of $1,792, with 56.6 percent of occupied homes owner-occupied. It counts 116,440 housing units, 59.4 percent single-family detached and 18.2 percent in buildings of 20 or more units, and only 1.3 percent built in 2020 or later. Both profiles are citywide, all-age estimates from the same survey period, so they compare directly, though they lag current prices.

Communities worth a look

  • Frisco LakesA 55+ active adult community of more than 3,000 single-story homes on the east shore of Lake Lewisville in Frisco, with three amenity centers and a resident-governed association.

Time-sensitive details

  • DFW Airport's news page announced new parking and access rates taking effect October 1, 2026, with discounts for TollTag customers and for those who prebook. (as of October 8, 2026; valid through November 22, 2026). Confirm before relying on it.

Sources and review date

Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources below; where a rule or figure can change, check the linked source before relying on it.

  1. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP05 Demographic and Housing Estimates, Frisco city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  2. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics, Frisco city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  3. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, Frisco city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  4. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, McKinney city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  5. Property Tax Rate (City of Frisco tax rates for fiscal year 2027) — City of Frisco (accessed 2026-10-08)
  6. Tax Administration — City of Frisco (accessed 2026-10-08)
  7. 2026 Tax Rates and Exemptions — Collin Central Appraisal District (accessed 2026-10-08)
  8. Exemptions — Denton Central Appraisal District (accessed 2026-10-08)
  9. Property Tax Exemptions — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (accessed 2026-10-08)
  10. Texas Health Frisco — Texas Health Resources (accessed 2026-10-08)
  11. Medical City Frisco Hospital — Medical City Healthcare (accessed 2026-10-08)
  12. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Centennial — Baylor Scott & White Health (accessed 2026-10-08)
  13. U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, Dallas Fort Worth Airport, TX (monthly) — NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (accessed 2026-10-08)
  14. April 24-29, 2026 Severe Storms & Tornadoes — National Weather Service Fort Worth (accessed 2026-10-08)
  15. Hail damage to your home or car? What to do next. — Texas Department of Insurance (accessed 2026-10-08)
  16. Insurance and your roof: What to know when buying a policy or filing a claim — Texas Department of Insurance (accessed 2026-10-08)
  17. Flood Maps — Federal Emergency Management Agency (accessed 2026-10-08)
  18. National Flood Insurance Program — Federal Emergency Management Agency (accessed 2026-10-08)
  19. DFW International Airport home page and news — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (accessed 2026-10-08)
  20. City of Frisco home page — City of Frisco (accessed 2026-10-08)
  21. Frisco Lakes: Location — The Village at Frisco Lakes Community Association (accessed 2026-10-08)
  22. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP05 Demographic and Housing Estimates, Plano city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  23. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics, Plano city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  24. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, Plano city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  25. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, Allen city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  26. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, Richardson city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  27. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, Carrollton city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  28. City of Plano home page — City of Plano (accessed 2026-10-08)
  29. 2020 Census Place Codes, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  30. Property Tax Information for Seniors — City of Plano (accessed 2026-10-08)
  31. Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+ — City of Plano (accessed 2026-10-08)
  32. Senior Resources in Plano — City of Plano (accessed 2026-10-08)
  33. Texas Health Plano — Texas Health Resources (accessed 2026-10-08)
  34. Medical City Plano Hospital — Medical City Healthcare (accessed 2026-10-08)
  35. Hospitals Locations Search — Baylor Scott & White Health (accessed 2026-10-08)
  36. Water System — North Texas Municipal Water District (accessed 2026-10-08)
  37. 2024 Water Resource and Emergency Management Plan — North Texas Municipal Water District (accessed 2026-10-08)
  38. Facts about Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) — Dallas Area Rapid Transit (accessed 2026-10-08)
  39. Orange Line — Dallas Area Rapid Transit (accessed 2026-10-08)
  40. Reduced Fares for Seniors and People with Disabilities — Dallas Area Rapid Transit (accessed 2026-10-08)
  41. DART Announces Regional Fare Adjustments Effective March 1, 2026 — Dallas Area Rapid Transit (accessed 2026-10-08)
  42. DFW Airport Fast Facts — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (accessed 2026-10-08)
  43. Welcome Home Frisco Lakes Homeowners Association — The Village at Frisco Lakes Community Association (accessed 2026-10-08)
  44. Governance at Frisco Lakes — The Village at Frisco Lakes Community Association (accessed 2026-10-08)
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