Moving to Downtown Plano: historic streets, townhomes and the DART station

Is Downtown Plano right for you?

Downtown Plano home values

Zillow Home Value Index (Zillow's typical home value: the middle of the market, all home types, smoothed and seasonally adjusted), September 2026. Zillow draws its own neighborhood boundaries.

What it costs to own in Downtown Plano each year

Prefilled with the typical price used in this guide for Downtown Plano. Add HOA dues if the home has them: ask for the HOA's current budget. Insurance isn't estimated: get a quote. Check the exact school district on the appraisal district's parcel record.

Tax year 2026 rates adopted by each taxing unit (Collin Central Appraisal District and the units' own notices). † Denton County's 2026 rate is proposed, not yet confirmed as adopted, and its homestead exemption isn't verified, so none is applied; Collin College isn't included for Denton County addresses: check the parcel's bill. An estimate, not a tax bill: special districts and over-65 tax ceilings can change it. Confirm with the appraisal district or a CPA.

The homes in Downtown Plano

The American Planning Association named Downtown Plano one of its Great Places in America in 2015 and put the district at about 80 acres, roughly from 14th Street north to 18th Place and from N and P Avenues east to F Avenue. It also counted more than 1,000 homes, apartments and townhomes within a quarter mile of the station. Most of that housing is new, and it comes in three types. If you want to own within sight of the station, start with the townhomes; if you're new to Plano and unsure, rent downtown for a year first and buy once you know which streets you like.

Townhomes and condos near the Downtown Plano station

The City's own walking tour lists 15th Street Village (20 townhomes and 34 condominiums) at G Avenue and 15th Street, and the Lexington Park Addition, 14 townhomes off East 16th Street. These are the for-sale homes closest to the station. Small developments mean few listings at a time, so set an alert and be ready to move.

Rice Field small-lot houses in Downtown Plano

Rice Field, west of G Avenue between 16th and 18th Streets, has detached houses on compact, zero-lot-line lots, about a quarter mile from the station and under a 10-minute walk from Haggard Park. It's the option if you want your own house and no shared walls, but expect a small yard.

Apartments around 15th Street

Eastside Village I (2001) was downtown's first apartment building, followed by Eastside Village II (2002) and the six-story Junction 15. If you're relocating before you buy, renting one of these for a year lets you test the commute. Plano's typical asking rent is $1,736 a month citywide (Zillow, September 2026), and downtown rents vary by building. The catch is that a fixed 12-month lease can make you miss the right townhome, so ask whether the lease can go month to month after the first term.

Downtown Plano home prices

Both of Zillow's downtown indexes fell more than the city this year: Old Towne by 5.99% and Haggard by 4.4%, against Plano's 3.33%. For you, that means sellers of the older houses here have had a harder year than the city as a whole, so ask for repairs. The indexes blend those houses with the newer townhomes, though, and a townhome by the station can list well above them. Compare any home with recent sales of the same type, not with the neighborhood figure.

On the Old Towne figure ($294,192), 20% down at Freddie Mac's 7.4% average is about $1,630 a month in principal and interest. Property tax at the 2026 Plano ISD, City, Collin County and Collin College rates adds about $270 once your homestead exemption is filed, so you're under $1,900 before insurance and HOA. That's about $1,400 a month less than the same math on Plano's typical home, and it's the money you're trading for a smaller house and train horns.

For the trend across the whole city, see our Plano housing market report.

Is Downtown Plano walkable?

Yes, within the district. The station, Haggard Park, 15th Street's restaurants and the theater are all within a few blocks, and the streets are laid with red brick and pavers. The City planned for it: the 1992 Downtown Development Plan led to a minimum density of 40 homes per acre around the station. Outside the district, you'll need a car for groceries and most errands, so check how far your daily stores are before you choose a street.

What to do in Downtown Plano

Visit Plano centers the arts district on 1021 East 15th Street, with galleries, independent shops and restaurants along it. These are the places you'd walk to from a downtown home, and the ones that bring the event crowds.

Haggard Park

Haggard Park, bounded by 15th Street, H Avenue and 16th Street, was donated to the City in 1928 by Emma Bishop in memory of her parents. It hosts the Plano International Festival and the tree lighting for Dickens in Historic Downtown Plano.

Interurban Railway Museum in Downtown Plano

The City restored and opened the Interurban Railway Museum next to Haggard Park in 1988. It tells the story of the interurban line that once ran through Plano and shows a 1911 rail car, Car 360.

Downtown Plano theater and art centre

The Courtyard Theater at 1509 H Avenue is a 321-seat theater the City restored from a former gym. Across the street, the 1906 Saigling House is home to the Art Centre of Plano.

McCall Plaza on 15th Street

McCall Plaza, along 15th Street at J Avenue next to the tracks, is the outdoor stage for downtown's concert series.

Is Downtown Plano a nice place to live?

Yes, if you want to walk to dinner and ride to Dallas; no, if you want quiet and a big yard. Downtown gives you a train, a park, a theater and restaurants on foot, in a district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also gives you event crowds, train horns and less parking than the suburban streets. The checklist below shows how to test both sides of that before you offer. Crime figures by area are on our Plano crime data page, from Plano Police Department reports.

Commuting from Downtown Plano by DART

The Downtown Plano station at 1001 East 16th Street opened on the Red Line in December 2002 and also gets the Orange Line at peak times. It has no park-and-ride lot, which matters if you plan to drive to the station. The Silver Line, opened in October 2025, adds a station nearby and a direct train to DFW Airport. Our commute guide for Plano to Dallas compares rail and road.

Before you buy in Downtown Plano

• Ask whether the home is inside the historic district and what that means for exterior changes, before you plan a renovation.
• Stand on the street at a weekday rush hour to hear the trains, and at a festival weekend to see the parking.
• Ask the HOA for dues, the resale certificate and any special assessment.
• Confirm the school district for the address, as you would anywhere in Plano: our Plano schools guide explains how.

If the downtown price looks right but you want more space, the older houses in East Plano are the next step out. The Plano neighborhood overview covers the rest, and Linda can walk the district with you on FaceTime.