Is Plano Safe for Travel RIGHT NOW? (2024 Safety Rating)

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

User Sentiment:

100

* Rated 100 / 100 based on 1 user reviews.

Texas : Safety by City

United States - safety as a country Texas - state review

Named by WalletHub as one of the Best Cities for Staycations, Plano, Texas, is known nationwide for its high quality of life and positive business climate.

Whether you’re a family looking for family-friendly activities or a friend group looking for a weekend getaway, Plano has exactly what you’re looking for.

With 1,000 restaurants covering all types of cuisines, Plano is hard to beat when it comes to gastronomic diversity.

From sushi to cafes to Texas-style barbecue, there will always be something to suit your palate.

But that’s far from being everything.

Plano’s 4,370 acres of parkland make it an ideal place for nature lovers.

Plus, shopping enthusiasts can go on sprees at the upscale Legacy West, the chic and trendy Shops at Legacy, and the all-in-one Shops at Willow Bend.

It’s impossible to run out of things to do in the “City of Excellence.”

If you think Plano might be your next travel destination, we’ve got all the information you need.

Warnings & Dangers in Plano

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Recognized as one of the safest cities in the US, Plano is safe for visitors and residents alike. With a crime rate 26% lower than the national rate and 34% lower than Texas’ overall crime rate, Plano is a top destination for both tourists and transplants. Plano has a low overall risk, making it an excellent place to be.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Plano offers many ways to get around, including the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), walking and biking options, and taxis. The most popular taxi services include Plano Taxi Cab, Taxi Plano, and Plano Discount Taxi & Limo, which all have 4.5 or more stars on Google. There are no complaints about safety in the customer reviews for any of the transport and taxi services mentioned above, so we can conclude that the risk is low.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

According to 24/7 Wall St., Plano’s larceny rate is lower than the national average, with 1,314 thefts for every 100,000 people. Larceny theft includes pickpocketing, bicycle theft, and shoplifting. Although there’s no data about pickpocketing specifically, we can conclude from the numbers above that Plano has a low pickpockets risk.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

With its yearly average of 3 tornadoes, Plano is at high risk for natural disasters. Others include thunderstorms, floods, and hail. But because natural-disaster-related deaths and injuries are extremely rare, our conclusion is that Plano has a medium-to-high risk for natural disasters.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Out of a population of 285,494, Plano has had 114 cases of robbery, giving it a robbery rate of 0.40 per 1,000 people. This is notably lower than the national rate, which is 0.73 per 1,000 people. Although there’s no mugging-related data in Plano, based on this finding, we can say that Plano has a low mugging risk.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There have been no terrorist attacks in Plano, although there have been terrorist threats. The most recent threat was in 2019 when an ISIS-inspired 18-year-old man plotted a mass shooting at a Collin County shopping mall. Since no actual terrorist attacks have been carried out, we can say that Plano has a low-to-medium terrorism risk.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

No scam-related statistics in Plano are available. However, according to the Plano government website, some of the most common scams in the city are eBay reseller scams, fake friend requests on Facebook, fake foreign currency investments, and check and money order scams. Since it doesn’t appear that any of these scams specifically target tourists, it looks like Plano has a low scams risk.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

According to female forum users and bloggers, Plano is extraordinarily safe for solo female travelers. Plus, there are enough hotel, shopping, dining, and outdoor activity options to suit the needs and preferences of women travelers of all ages. Whether you’re looking for a solo or group getaway, Plano, with its low women traveler risk, is a smart choice.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Because the city of Plano has no active health-based violations of the Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA) as of December 2021, it appears that Plano has a low tap water risk and that its tap water is safe for drinking and everyday usage.

Safest Places to Visit in Plano

According to Neighborhood Scout, the safest neighborhoods in Plano are:

Robinson Road / Oak Shores Drive, Mcdermott Road / Gifford Drive, Route 121 / W Spring Creek Parkway, Dublin Road / Fm 2514, and Red Wolf Lane / Windhaven Parkway.

For safe and interesting places for tourists, you can’t go wrong with the tourist-friendly places like the shopping malls (Legacy West, Shops at Legacy, and Shops at Willow Bend), the nature parks (Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, and White Rock Trail Park), and Downtown Plano.

Overall, Plano has a low property and violent crime rate, but it’s always wise to stick to the safest areas to ensure your safety, especially if you’re a visitor.

Places to Avoid in Plano

The most crime-ridden areas, according to Crime Grade, are the northwest neighborhoods, where one’s chance of being a crime victim is as high as 1 in 21.

Compare this to the northeast part of the city, where one’s chance is as low as 1 in 59.

A report by Payless Power shows that the most common crimes in the city are theft (1,313.7 per 100,000 people), burglary (216), and aggravated assault (66.5).

That said, the rates for all these crimes are significantly lower than the national rate.

For example, the national burglary rate is 340.5 per 100,000 people.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Plano

Do your due diligence. Get in-depth knowledge about Plano before arriving. You can do this by reading reviews on travel forums, like Trip Advisor or Fodor’s Travel, or even consulting with locals if you happen to know any.
Avoid leaving the safer parts of the city. Plano is a safe city overall, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be cautious. Stay in tourist-friendly areas, like the high-traffic shopping areas and Downtown Plano.
Don’t walk alone at night. No matter where you are in the US or in the world, it’s never wise to walk by yourself after dark. If going out at night is necessary, bring a buddy or take public transportation.
Know your surroundings. One of the biggest perks of traveling is being able to meet new people and experience different cultures. However, letting your guard down too much can be dangerous. If there’s ever a time you feel uncomfortable or you see someone acting strangely/suspiciously, leave the area immediately.
Keep your belongings close. Never leave your things unattended. Hold on to them or keep them on your lap. Although theft and burglary rates are comparably low in Plano, they’re never outside the realm of possibility, especially for tourists.
Be careful when using public transportation. When taking, for example, a taxi or bus, check to see if the driver has an official badge or permit. This is something any real or legitimate taxi or bus driver will have, so be on the lookout.
Use a VPN. Although it’s convenient, free public wifi isn’t completely safe. There’s always the possibility that hackers will steal valuable information from you, such as your Social Security number or credit card information. Using a virtual private network (VPN), however, will allow you to safely use the internet.
Call emergency services. Everyone in the US knows that 911 is the emergency services number. If you have to dial this number, make sure you’re in an area with a signal (contrary to popular belief, you cannot call 911 in no-signal areas). Also, be ready to give your full name, a short description of what’s happening, and the address of where it’s taking place, and be prepared to stay on the line.
Stick to the hiking trails. Hiking trails are designed not only to protect the environment but also to prevent you from getting hurt or lost. Plano is full of nature parks. Make sure you stay on the hiking trails so you can enjoy everything they have to offer.
Have a tornado shelter. As you well know, Plano is at high risk for tornadoes. Although it’s widely believed that underground shelters are best, overground shelters provide better protection. It might also be helpful to know that tornadoes most frequently occur in Texas in the late spring and early summer.

So... How Safe Is Plano Really?

Plano is incredibly safe, with crime rates substantially lower than Texas’ overall rate as well as the national rate.

Plus, Plano’s crime rates are steadily decreasing, which means the city is becoming safer for both tourists and residents.

Of course, like any other city in the US, Plano has safer areas and areas that visitors should avoid.

Neighborhoods should probably stay away from the northwest part of the city, where a person’s chance of being a crime victim is as high as 1 in 21.

On the other hand, one’s chances of falling victim to a crime are as low as 1 in 59 in the northeast part of the city.

Popular tourist spots, like the malls, nature parks, and Downtown Plano, are also reasonably safe for visitors, so it’s best to stick to them.

As a whole, Plano poses very low risks for travelers, so you can rest assured that you’ll have a fun-filled, safe, and memorable vacation in Texas’ “City of Excellence.”

How Does Plano Compare?

City	Safety Index
Plano	86
New Orleans	57
Baltimore	56
Boston	67
Washington DC	56
New York City	67
Detroit	56
Niagara Falls (Canada)	87
Calgary (Canada)	82
Buenos Aires (Argentina)	60
Vancouver (Canada)	82
Cordoba (Argentina)	61
Toronto (Canada)	81

Useful Information

Visas

All US-bound travelers are required to present a passport upon arrival. For business- or tourism-related purposes, however, visas aren’t required for stays shorter than 90 days. But they may be required for permanent residents.

Currency

No foreign currency is accepted in the US, where only the US dollar is used. If you need to exchange your currency, you can avail of currency exchange services at ATMs, kiosks, and businesses sprinkled throughout Plano.

Weather

Plano has four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and fall), which seem too good to be true for moderate weather lovers, but there are some things to take into consideration. First, summers in Plano are muggy and hot. Secondly, Plano’s winters are windy and cold. Therefore, it’s important to research the weather conditions before visiting because you’ll have to prepare and dress accordingly.

Airports

The closest international airport to Plano is the Dallas/Fort Worth ( DFW ) International Airport, which is 29.4 miles/31 minutes away from the city.

Travel Insurance

This is, by far, the most important, travel-related investment you can make. For a low cost, you can protect yourself against potentially huge financial losses, such as trip cancellations, lost or stolen possessions, or medical emergencies. No one is completely immune from unexpected travel situations, so it’s always a good idea to have a cushion in the form of travel insurance in case anything bad happens.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Plano Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 7° C

Feb 10° C

Mar 15° C

Apr 19° C

May 23° C

Jun 28° C

Jul 30° C

Aug 30° C

Sep 26° C

Oct 20° C

Nov 14° C

Dec 9° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	13	16	21	24	28	33	35	35	31	26	19	14
Low °C	1	4	9	13	17	23	24	24	20	13	8	3
High °F	55	61	70	75	82	91	95	95	88	79	66	57
Low °F	34	39	48	55	63	73	75	75	68	55	46	37

Texas - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Abilene	67
Amarillo	65
Austin	65
Corpus Christi	71
Dallas	64
El Paso	77
Fort Worth	77
Garland	83
Houston	59
Irving	79
Laredo	68
Lubbock	38
Plano	86
San Antonio	53
Tyler	70
Waco	61

1 Review on Plano

A
Alex says:
at
Suburb
Beyond safe city but it is just a growing suburb. If you are here for work it can be a cool place with awesome food and some nice shopping districts, but if you are in Dallas or Fort Worth on a trip no reason to come out this way

Plano Rated 5 / 5 based on 1 user reviews.

Is Plano Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report