McKinney, Texas

McKinney Texas - Cnn's best Place to Live

Jane Clark Neighborhood

Jane Clark on Wednesday, 29 October 2014 published in Cities

McKinney, Texas - The #1 Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine
It’s official – McKinney is the best place to live in the country. Money magazine revealed its “Best Places to Live in America” list, and McKinney ranks #1.

McKinney earned this distinction based on housing affordability, education, arts and culture, safety, health care, diversity and the economy, including the fiscal strength of the government. McKinney ranked #2 in 2012, #5 in 2010 and debuted on the list at #14 in 2008. In the Best Places to Live listing, Money magazine editors and writers rank cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000 every other year.

• Mckinney Awards
• Unique by Nature
• McKinney Schools
• 5 Star

• McKinney Texas is an extrodinary place to live and work. Yes, Mckinney is unique by nature and many in the media and governmental sectors have noticed. It is no wonder McKinney Texas continues to make many of the most prestigious lists rating us as the one of the best Places to live and work.

  Since 2008, McKinney has been rated among the top 15 on the Best Places to Live in America list, published by Money Magazine every other year. In the August 2012 issue of Money, McKinney was listed at No. 2, the only Texas city in the top 10. Editors and writers review employment, schools, safety and overall quality of life aspects to come up with their top cities. McKinney stood out due to beautiful natural parks and open spaces, affordable and diverse housing, plenty of available jobs and a vibrant downtown. In 2014 McKinney moved up to the No.1 Best Place to live in America. No wonder Mckinney Real Estate is the one of the Best investments you can make.

  The McKinney Public Library System received the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award for the ninth straight year.

  McKinney was rated by NerdWallet.com as the #4 Best City in Texas for Job Seekers. NerdWallet.com analyzed Texas cities based on Census data about growth in populations of potential workers over age 16, median income and unemployment rate.

  The city Planning Department received the Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence (CLIDE) Award from the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The regional CLIDE award was earned for the comprehensive implementation strategy (Phase 2) of the McKinney Town Center Study Initiative. The city earned the same honor for Phase 1 of the study in 2009.

  WalletHub named McKinney as the #7 Best City in the USA for First-Time Homebuyers, WalletHub compared the 300 largest U.S. cities to determine those most and least attractive to first-time homebuyers, The ratings were based on a series of important Real Estate metrics such as median house prices and real estate taxes to median home price appreciation and price-to-rent ratios.

• Beautiful tree-lined streets remain one of McKinney’s most beloved assets, attracting new residents and wowing writers of national publications. The value of McKinney real estate extends to a strong appreciation of the quality of life derived from living in a community where the natural beauty of our environment is preserved and protected, Money Magazine highlighted the city’s natural beauty when we were listed on the "Best Places to Live in America" list in 2010 and 2012 and 2014

  McKinney is one of just seven Texas cities awarded Scenic City Certification by the Scenic City Certification Program. This five year certification (2013-2018) was granted after a thorough review of infrastructure programs for public roadways and public spaces. McKinney is the first to receive the Platinum designation after just the first application. Of the 1,200 cities and towns in Texas, only 42 cities are recognized, and just five cities have earned the Platinum level of the award.

  McKinney was especially recognized for:

  • Strong standards that enhance street aesthetics, like sign regulation, landscaping and lighting standards
  • Emphasis on establishing and protecting parks, trails and open spaces
  • Historic preservation program
  • Consistent design standards throughout the city

  McKinney has ranked as a Tree City USA Community for the past 10 years. Cities achieve the Tree City USA status by meeting four standards of urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.

  Tree City certification promotes the benefits of our urban forest and puts forward a positive community image that residents and businesses can appreciate.

  The city celebrates its love of trees during the annual Arbor Day celebration held in November called Share the Shade. The event allows residents to literally share shade with neighbors and the community when they take home one of 100 free trees given away at the event.

• Children and education are high priorities among the qualifying factors that define quality of life. Families look for the best educational opportunities when choosing a hometown, and businesses want ahighly educated workforce as an employee base.

  The McKinney Independent School District (MISD) is one of the fastest growing school districts in Texas over the last decade, with a current enrollment of more than 24,000 students in 20 elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools, one alternative school and one early childhood education school.

  The past year has been an exciting time of expansion and progress for McKinney ISD facilities. The bond program voters approved in 2011 is in full implementation and the package includes significant additions and renovations. Work will include replacing old roofs, upgrading the energy management system, upgrading fire and alarm systems, and installing security vestibules at a number of campuses.

  The first major phase of renovations and additions at McKinney High School was completed in time for the beginning of the school year. The additions at that campus expand the school’s capacity to 3,000 students, and the complete project is scheduled to wrap up in the last quarter of 2014 Faubion Middle School received a modern facelift over the summer. Other schools to be expanded include Reuben Johnson and Malvern Elementary Schools, Dowell Middle School and McKinney North High School.

  Collin College provides another major educational resource for residents and businesses, offering students the opportunity to earn undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in a range of academic and applied disciplines. Since 1985, Collin College has expanded to serve about 53,000 credit and continuing education students each year. As the only public college in Collin County, the college offers more than 100 degrees and certificates in a wide range of disciplines. Collin College was named a Finalist for the Presidential Award on the National Higher Education Community Service Roll. The Presidential Award is the highest honor a college or university can receive for its exemplary commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. Collin College was one of only two community colleges recognized.

  Collin College is laying the foundation to becoming a leading health science destination. It announced plans to open a three-story, 125,000-square-foot health science hub in 2015 at the Central Park campus in McKinney. The addition is part of Collin College’s Vision 2016 strategic plan, which aims to improve academic success, provide access to innovative higher education programs, engage faculty, students and staff, and enhance the college’s presence in the community.

  With all there is to offer in McKinney – shaded lots to build a dream home, great schools and activities that bring residents together – it’s no wonder people are so passionate about their hometown of McKinney, Texas. That is why you will find the your investment in McKinney Real Estate will be one of your best investments in your quality of life,

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