About Allen 

I’ll start out by giving you some of the basic stats about Allen, Texas. Allen is located in Collin County and is around twenty miles from downtown Dallas. Much of Allen’s growth took place in the early 2000s so don’t expect massive population boosts like we are seeing in some of the smaller towns of Celina and Prosper. 

Downtown Allen

As of now, downtown Allen is on the minds of many of the city’s residents. That’s because for years, there have been plans for major development in the area. In January 2023, the City Council approved several changes to zoning codes to make way for this new development. While it may not look like much now, the city of Allen has proven time and again that they like to get things done the right way, so I would expect an outstanding downtown district in the near future. 

History of Allen 

Allen’s history goes back to the 1840s, when immigrants started moving to this area when the land went up for sale. With almost every North Dallas town, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad was built through Allen in the 1870s. 

Allen was officially incorporated in 1953 with a population of 400 and stayed relatively small until it saw a 96% population increase from 2000 to 2010. 

Fun fact: The first train robbery in Texas took place in Allen on February 22, 1878.

Jobs and Economy 

Allen has a pretty strong economy on its own but I think it is important to point out that this is very much a suburban town. Much of the industry in the area belongs to Frisco and Plano with a hefty number of the residents of Allen working in those cities. 

For those that do work in Allen 10% of the workforce works for the city while the other largest employers are Experian, Jack Henry & Associates, and Frontier.

Median Income: $112,603

Median Home Value: $540,000

Schools

Allen takes its education seriously, and that is pretty obvious just by taking a look at the schools in this area. Although there is only one high school, it excels and with 16 elementary schools to choose from, parents will have no problem finding a place to send their younger kids. 

Two school districts serve Allen. And they are some of the best in the entire state. Allen ISD and Lovejoy ISD. 

Here are some of the stats for each district and Allen High School: 

Allen ISD 

• A+ rating from niche.com 
• Number 5 school district in Texas 
• 1 high school 
• 3 middle schools 
• 16 elementary schools

Lovejoy ISD

A+ rating from niche.com

Number 8 school district in Texas 

4300 students

1 High School

2 Middle Schools 

2 Elementary Schools

Allen High School 

• Allen High School is the largest high school in Texas with 5,313 students.
• A rating from Niche.com 
• Average SAT: 1270 
• Average ACT: 28 
• Top 2% of College Prep Among Public High Schools in Texas
• Home to the 4th largest High School Football Stadium in Texas and the 8th largest in the United States: Allen Eagle Stadium- holds 18,000 people and cost $60,000,000 to build in 2012. 

Parks and Recreation 

Allen has many strengths, but one of its biggest is their parks system. This city truly cares about providing the best park experience for its residents. The department consistently wins awards with all that they do for the city and it’s no wonder. 

Allen has 50 total parks and 76% of residents are within a 10 minute walk of a park. 

And they aren’t even stopping there. 

They still have developments in the works to enhance existing parks and create new ones so if you are an outdoors lover, you’ve got to check out Allen, Texas. 

Allen Station Park

Allen’s largest park spanning just under 130 acres.

Has plenty of options for sports enthusiasts such as: 

• 
  Baseball fields
• A BMX Track 
• Hiking and Biking Trails 
• Inline Hockey Rinks 
• A Skate Park 
• Softball Fields 
• A Playground 

Celebration Park 

Celebration Park is a fan favorite of Allen residents. There is tons to do if you are into sports and this park hosts events all the time, making it a great place to spend time with the kids. 

The park spans 100 acres and has:

• 
  Baseball Fields
• Basketball Courts 
• Hiking and Biking Trails 
• Soccer Fields 
• Tennis/Pickleball Courts
• Ponds

Celebration Park is also home to the Allen USA Celebration which is a massive summer party with live music, food, and one of the best firework shows in the DFW. 

Shopping 

The Village at Allen 

The Village at Allen is a 1,027,413 square foot shopping center with a wide range of shopping, dining, and other entertainment options. It is home to over 150 stores, restaurants, and services including: 

• 
  TopGolf
• Cabela’s
• Kirklands
• James Avery 

Allen Premium Outlets

Allen Premium Outlets is the largest shopping mall in Allen with so much to do that you won’t even know where to begin. Shop more than 120 outlet designer and name-brand outlet stores including Tory Burch, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Coach, Nike Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Under Armour and many more.

Watters Creek Village

Watters Creek Village is a beautiful multi-use shopping center in south Allen. With its vertically dense design, this 52-acre project incorporates a complete mix of uses including a large creekside village green, interactive public art, a variety of retail options, restaurants featuring al fresco dining and water views, and office space and residential lofts.

Hidden Gems 

Allen Old Stone Dam

One of the most well-known landmarks in Allen is the Old Stone Dam. This dam has a ton of history behind it. It was built in 1874 to provide water for steam locomotives. In 1912, a larger dam was built downstream and the Old Stone Dam was submerged for almost 60 years. It has since been designated as a Texas State Archaeological Landmark and is a great way to see a little Texas History when you're out for a walk. 

Neighborhoods

Twin Creeks 

Twin Creeks is a very popular community in Allen that has a wide variety of houses to choose from and different price points, but the median price for a home in this community is around $659,000. 

Twin Creeks claim to fame is the beautiful golf course built right into the community. 

Twin Creeks Golf Club

• Arnold Palmer Signature golf course
• Big golf practice area with a real grass driving range, practice sandpit, and areas to practice chipping and putting.
• A smaller 3-hole practice course for junior golfers.
• Fantastic golf store with the newest high-quality equipment, clothes, and gifts from top brands.
• The Elkhorn Grill, where you can enjoy delicious food made fresh every day by the club's chef and cooking team.
• Lovely space for parties and meetings that can fit groups of all sizes.
• Modern audio and video equipment for business meetings, classes, and conferences.
• Skilled golf teachers, including PGA professionals, offering private and group lessons, programs for young golfers, and special lessons before tournaments.
• Free parking for events.

Star Creek

Star Creek is a 529-acre community and consists of large single-family homes built between 2005 and 2015 by builders like Highland, Huntington, and Darling.

Prices generally start around the $650s

A few of the amenities include: 

• 
  A Clubhouse
• two outdoor pools
• a splash zone
• a pool pavilion
• a tennis court
• and a playground

The community also contains two lakes, several fountains, and has plenty of greenways.

Pros and Cons of Allen

Pro #1- One of the Best Schools for Athletes in the Country 

Allen’s massive football stadium and success across many sports make it one of the best schools for athletes in the country. 

Con #1- Higher Home Prices 

Allen has a median home price of $540,000 making it quite pricier to buy a home when compared to the national median of $410,000.

Pro #2- Allen has a World Class Park System

Allen’s parks department has won numerous awards for their work at keeping it’s residents within an arm's reach of parks and green spaces. 

Con #2- Lack of New Construction

Growth in Allen has definitely slowed in the past years as it becomes larger. And while there are still new constructions popping up throughout the city, you won’t find many major developments like you have in Frisco and Plano. 

Pro #3- Highway 75 Goes Right Through Allen

Highway 75 can take Allen residents straight into Dallas as the city is essentially built around this highway. The only draw is the traffic that you might run into. 

Con #3- Prone to Thunderstorms 

Like most North Dallas cities, Allen is prone to severe thunderstorms. 

Pro #4- 4 Lakes Close By

If you love lake life, you’ve got a couple to choose from within an hour drive from you. Lake Lavon to the east is only around 20 miles away and Lewisville Lake to the west is around 23 miles away. 

Con #4- It Gets Hot in Allen!

This is nothing new. Dallas and its surrounding suburbs tend to get pretty hot. In July and August you can expect temperature regularly to exceed 100 degrees. 

Pro #5-Commute Times Around North Dallas

While Allen is still a trek to downtown Dallas, it borders both Frisco and Plano so if you are working in one of those areas, getting around will be a breeze for you. 

Con #5- Allen is a far from the airport 

Allen is around 34 miles away from the DFW airport, which is the major airport in Dallas. Those 34 miles mean that you can probably expect anywhere from a 40 minute to an hour commute to get to the airport. 

Let the Living in Dallas Texas Help You in Your Move to Allen Texas! 

Allen Texas is truly one of the not so hidden gems of North Dallas suburbs. You’ve got just about everything at your fingertips and you will not find a more family-friendly environment. If you are looking forward to getting in on some of the real estate in Allen, the Living in Dallas Texas Team is here to help. We help people every day make their move to the Dallas area and we would be happy to help you as well. Give us a call, send us an email, or hop on a zoom call to talk to one of our agents today so we can help you make that smooth move to Allen, Texas!