This Surprising North Texas Suburb Is Among the Most Ethnically Diverse Cities in the US

Quick, what comes to mind first when you think of Plano? 

For those of us who do not live in or regularly visit the state’s ninth-most-populated city, the answers to that question often include master-planned suburban residential communities, office parks, chain restaurants, moms in minivans and an overabundance of white people. 

To be fair, all of the above are true, except for the last one, according to a new study. 

Of course, stereotypes and ill-informed preconceived notions often miss the mark and gloss over what makes a city unique. There was a time, not all that terribly long ago, when Plano was a predominantly white community. Plano was a popular destination in the ‘80s and ‘90s for white families moving out of Dallas. During that time, Plano schools had extremely low percentages of non-white students, for example. But the city’s demographics have changed dramatically since 2000, even if its reputation hasn’t. 

When we asked Observer readers last year to name the worst suburbs in North Texas, Plano was one of the top vote-getters. The city’s recent efforts to end its DART partnership and a perceived lack of racial diversity were common remarks against Plano among Observer social media commenters. But again, one of those things is true, and the other simply is not. 

A new WalletHub study ranks Plano No. 23 among the most racially diverse cities in the U.S., making it the most diverse city in North Texas. And why shouldn’t it be? It seems as though Plano pops up near the top of all sorts of surveys ranking cities for quality of life, low crime, job opportunities and more. 

This result isn’t sprouting from a small sample size, either. WalletHub surveyed 500 of the largest U.S. cities and ranked them in three different categories, including ethnic diversity, linguistic diversity and birthplace diversity. 

Suburban Concerns

Racial and cultural diversity has been a particularly hot topic in that suburban region north of Dallas. Not only is there growing concern stemming from the national immigration enforcement efforts of ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol, but residents from Frisco and surrounding cities descended upon a recent city council meeting to call out what they say is a disproportionate influx of Indian immigrants. 

“Residents experiencing changing demographic shifts can have at least two basic reactions or outcomes,”  Professor Horace R. Hall of DePaul University said in the report. “For some, demographic shifts are welcomed as increasing ethnic populations denote an expanded local workforce, as well as growth for local businesses. This, in turn, increases tax revenue where cities and municipalities can then spend tax-generated funds on schools, parks, hospitals, and/or public transit. However, for other residents, rapid changes to ethnic composition can be negative when linked to the gentrification and displacement of existing community residents.”

According to the most recent U.S. Census results, Plano is 49.9% white, 8.8% Black, 23.7% Asian and 16.7% Latino. According to the WalletHub survey, which was more than enough to make Plano the most racially diverse city in Texas, let alone North Texas. 

Helping Plano land so high on the list was a No. 54 ranking in ethnic diversity, No. 33 ranking for linguistic diversity and a No. 68 ranking in birthplace diversity. The only North Texas city even close to matching Plano’s diversity in the survey is Arlington, ranked No. 31 overall, with an impressive No. 17 ranking in ethnic diversity. 

It’s not as though the two anchor cities of North Texas lack diversity, though. Dallas came in at No. 57 and Fort Worth trailed closely behind at No. 59. The least diverse city in Texas, Laredo, is also near the bottom of the overall 500-city U.S. list at No. 491.