Known for its historic downtown and family-oriented atmosphere, McKinney also offers scenic parks and green spaces, great amenities and a strong sense of community. From neighborhood gatherings to city-wide festivals like Oktoberfest and Arts in Bloom, there’s always something fun happening. And with access to top schools, it’s a perfect place for growing families.
NEARBY:
McKinney is bordered by Anna, Melissa, Princeton, Lucas, Allen, Plano, Frisco, Prosper and Fairview
McKinney Fast Facts
POPULATION
213,509
2023 U.S. Census
REAL ESTATE
$545,000
Median listing price, realtor.com
Neighborhood Gems
La Leche League of Collin County: Find support, share experiences and have questions answered by an accredited LLL leader at these monthly meetings. lllflorida.com/collin
Moms Club of McKinney: Find friendship, encouragement and fun activities—for mom and for kids—the Central and West McKinney chapters of MOMS Club. Mothers with children of any age welcome to join. mckinneymoms.blogspot.com
Plano Area Moms of Multiples: Serving greater McKinney, this group provides support, education and community for moms with multiples. pamom.org
The MomCo: This faith-based group partners with Crosspoint Church in McKinney with activities that range from crafting to guest speakers. Childcare is provided for little ones. crosspointmckinney.church/momco
RELATED: Where to Find Mom Groups in DFW
McKinney Farmers Market: The historic farmers market at Chestnut Square brings together 75 vendors each Saturday morning offering homegrown harvests, artisanal specialty foods, pasture-raised meats and one-of-a-kind handmade items from local makers. // 315 S Chestnut St., McKinney; chestnutsquare.org
RELATED: Farmers Markets Around DFW
Chestnut Square Heritage Village: Just south of McKinney’s downtown, you can step back in time at this collection of historic homes, a wedding chapel, a general store, and a replica of a one-room schoolhouse, as well as a blacksmith shop and smokehouse.
The buildings include period artifacts showing how people lived in Collin County from 1854-1920 and the village hosts events like the farmers market, ghost walk and an annual ice cream celebration. // 315 S. Chestnut St., McKinney; chestnutsquare.org
Historic Downtown McKinney: One of the oldest and largest historic districts in Texas, this downtown boasts eclectic shops, galleries and boutiques and unique eateries. It’s home to events, festivals and musical performances throughout the year. Stroll the streets or hop on the trolley for a ride through this scenic downtown. // N. Tennessee St. McKinney; mckinneytexas.org
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary: See creatures great and small, walk among free-flying butterflies and take in rotating exhibits like their life-size animatronic dinosaurs and, new this year, bugs at this 289-acre nature preserve and museum. The Heard also hosts events like bird walks, nature story times and campouts. // 1 Nature Place, McKinney; heardmuseum.org
RELATED: 181 Places to Go with Kids in DFW
CheerLand: Bright and joyful, this indoor play space is purposefully designed to be stimulating for kids with thousands of square feet of play opportunities. // 3935 S. Lake Forest Dr., Suite 115, McKinney; cheerlandusa.com
PeeknPlay: Just for children aged 0–8, here you’ll find a mini village, a colorful ball pit, party rooms and more. // 3700 McKinney Ranch Pkwy., Suite 100, McKinney; peeknplayarea.com
Play Street Museum: Children learn through exploration and play at this indoor play area for kids 8 and under featuring interactive exhibits and creativity stations. // 3851 S. Stonebridge Dr., Suite 400, McKinney; mckinney.playstreetmuseum.com
RELATED: Indoor Play Places Around DFW
Property Tax Rate
(per $100 accessed value)
Collin County / McKinney ISD: 1.77%
Collin County / Frisco ISD: 1.67%
Collin County / Melissa ISD: 1.9%
Collin County / Prosper ISD: 1.9%
Property tax rates may vary slightly depending on location and taxing entities.
Child Care Centers & Preschools in McKinney
Find more child care centers and preschools near you.
McKinney Schools
Public School Districts
McKinney Independent School District
• 23,100+ students
• 20 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools, 2 alternative campuses and 1 early childhood education center
• TEA rating: B
Frisco Independent School District
• 67,000+ students
• 43 elementary schools, 1 intermediate school, 18 middle schools, 12 high schools, 3 special programs schools
• TEA rating: A
Melissa Independent School District
• 5,620+ students
• 1 early childhood education center, 4 elementary schools, 1 sixth grade center, 1 middle school, 1 high schools
• TEA rating: A
Prosper Independent School District
• 24,890+ students
• 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools
• TEA rating: A
Learn more about the Texas Education Agency’s accountability rating system at tea.texas.gov.
Mom-Approved Pediatricians in McKinney
Find more DFWChild Mom-Approved Pediatricians near you.
Top Family Neighborhoods
Courtney Jay Slater, mom and realtor with Epique Realty, shares three great neighborhoods in McKinney where families can grow and thrive.
Painted Tree
The thoughtfully designed neighborhood Inspiration Collection 60 at Painted Tree is served by McKinney ISD and perfect for families seeking space to grow. With homes on 60-foot-wide homesites, this collection offers room for expansion and guests.
Residents enjoy miles of hiking and biking trails, a large park, playgrounds and multiple amenity centers. The community embraces outdoor living, with scenic views, greenbelt areas, and a serene lake. A food truck court and clubhouse provide great social opportunities. Learn more at realtor.com.
Aster Park
A family-friendly master-planned community nestled on over 400 acres, offers spacious 50-foot homesites and homes ranging from 1,800 to 3,300 square feet. The Reserve Series features customizable options like home offices, media rooms and vaulted ceilings to suit your lifestyle.
Future amenities include a clubhouse, parks, trails and a pool, providing endless opportunities for family fun and relaxation, and no MUD or PID assessments keep taxes low. Served by Prosper ISD, Aster Park is located with easy access to shopping, dining and entertainment. Learn more at realtor.com.
Willow Wood
Nestled within a beautiful 306-acre landscape, Willow Wood is a charming, master-planned community designed to offer families a peaceful and active lifestyle. The neighborhood features a swimming pool with a splash park and a large deck with covered seating areas for lounging and socializing, a pavilion, sports court, and playground—perfect for family outings and making new memories.
Willow Wood, zoned for Melissa ISD, provides a convenient location with easy access to McKinney’s quaint downtown district, shopping and dining options. Learn more at realtor.com.
McKinney Mom Life
Why Joy Brown Calls McKinney Home
Joy Brown, a 42-year-old mom of three, moved the area 10 years ago and put down roots in McKinney.
“I love that McKinney is such a nice residential area that is filled with different families of all backgrounds. It’s very family-friendly with so many things for kids and families to do.”
Joy’s Local Picks
Playtime
“Finch Park is a favorite because it has huge open play areas, a volleyball net, splash pad and food trucks.”
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
“Our favorite family-friendly restaurant is The Stix Icehouse. The restaurant not only has great food and drinks, but it sits on 14 acres, so the kids can run and play without it ever being too crowded. They also have several games for the kids to play and live music.”
Date Night
“We visit District 121—we love Rick’s Chophouse and the whole area there. We frequently visit downtown McKinney to hear some good live music and have a cocktail at Room One Eleven.”
RELATED: DFWChild’s Best for Families winners
Family-Friendly Events In & Around McKinney
Eggtastic Easter
Little Elm Park
Spring Fling Eggstravaganza
Grandscape
ComedySportz
The Comedy Arena
Easter Egg Hunt
Kaleidoscope Park
Family-Friendly Magic & Comedy Show with Dal Sanders
The Comedy Arena
Spring Native Plant Sale
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Chamberlain Ballet’s Peter & The Wolf & Sleeping Beauty
Frisco Discovery Center
Chamberlain Ballet’s Peter & The Wolf & Sleeping Beauty
Robinson Fine Arts Center
Safety Saturdays
Frisco Fire Safety Town
Melon Dash 10K, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
Little Elm Park
Find more family fun events every day of the week at dfwchild.com/calendar.