Living in Allen, Texas

Allen ISD serves almost all of the city, with small pockets in Lovejoy, McKinney and Plano ISDs, so check zoning by address. The district is still working through projects from its 2024 bond, including the Curtis Middle School renovation (through July 2027) and Green Elementary and Ford Middle renovations starting summer 2027. Allen ISD's 18,000-seat Eagle Stadium opened in 2012.

For tax year 2025, Allen homes pay the city (0.4154), Collin County (0.149343), Collin College (0.08122) and their school district. That is about 1.77% combined with Allen ISD (1.1258), ranging from about 1.69% in Plano ISD to about 1.90% in Lovejoy ISD. On a $500,000 home in Allen ISD that is roughly $738 a month before exemptions, and the city also offers a 5% homestead exemption on its portion. For 2026-27 the city lowered its rate to 0.4147 and Allen ISD lowered its rate to 1.1037.

The $97.1 million, 103,000 sq ft headquarters on Century Parkway was 76% complete in Oct 2026, with police staff slated to move in March.^[4]

A $10.2 million, 25-room patient care unit is planned on the third floor, with construction estimated Jan. to Sept. 2027.^[5]

Council approved a program on Oct. 13, 2026: owners of rental houses, townhomes and duplexes must register by Jan. 31 for a $150 annual fee.^[6]

Blackburn Communities and Wolverine Interests plan 352 units east of US 75 along W. Boyd Drive, opening in early 2028.^[7]

Funded by the 2024 bond: Curtis Middle School through July 2027, plus Green Elementary and Ford Middle starting summer 2027.^[8]

Allen EDC lists Sloan Corners (261 acres, 6 million+ sq ft of office planned) and Allen Gateway (75 acres with hotel, office and retail).^[9]

Power to Choose lists Oncor as the delivery utility for Allen's ZIP codes 75002 and 75013, so you choose a retail electric plan on that site.^[17]

New residents create a utility account in the City of Allen's Citizen Self Service portal and upload a government ID; a $100 initial deposit appears on the first bill. Trash and single-stream recycling are handled by Community Waste Disposal (CWD).^[18]

Once you own and live in the home, file the residence homestead exemption with the Collin Central Appraisal District. It is free and you never need to pay a company to do it. Collin CAD accepts it online through its Taxpayer Portal, by mail or in person (not by email), with a copy of your Texas ID showing the home's address.^[20]

Allen ISD: new students enroll through the district's Enrollment page, and the district publishes a school boundaries map. Parts of the city are zoned to Plano ISD, Lovejoy ISD or McKinney ISD, so check the address before you fall in love with a house.^[21]

Register your vehicle with the Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector (main office 2300 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney). Texas DMV gives new residents 30 days to register, and this is an emissions county, so pass a state inspection first. For your license, Collin County DPS offices are in McKinney (400 Power House St.) and Plano (825 Ohio Dr.) (appointments required); DPS lets you drive on a valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days after moving.^[22]