Plano receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Balch Springs
Plano
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 28%
vs68 · Top 27%
Growth
64 · Top 26%
vs64 · Top 27%
Climate
68 · Bottom 41%
vs65 · Bottom 33%
Physical resilience
52 · Bottom 45%
vs67 · Top 40%
Housing affordability
81 · Top 50%
vs83 · Top 45%
Schools
26 · Bottom 18%
vs80 · Top 14%
Access
95 · Top 34%
vs96 · Top 31%
Economic stability
64 · Top 41%
vs74 · Top 20%
Measured values
| Metric | Balch Springs | Plano | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,255 | 290,594 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,942 | $112,253 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,186 | $59,916 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,002/sq mi | 4,053/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $224,400 | $465,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,378 | $1,841 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.7% | 56.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.1% | 60.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 6.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 165 | 716 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.1 | 2.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 20.4% | 104.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 95°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.7" | 38.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 37.3 min | 27.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.2 | 39.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 74 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.08 | 14.28 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 27.3% | 52.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 30.9% | 53.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 90.8% | 34.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Balch Springs
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Plano
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Balch Springs
62
Your Score
57
Area Score
Plano
75
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Balch Springs, TX · Plano, TX · How this is calculated: methodology