WalletHub's annual study of the 300 best real estate markets in the country just named Frisco the #1 market in America. McKinney came in at #2, Denton at #5, and Allen at #8 — four Collin and Denton County cities in the national top 8. The ranking is based on real data: affordability, job growth, and housing supply. Here's what's behind it, and what it means if you're buying or selling here.
What did WalletHub's 2026 ranking actually measure?
WalletHub scored all 300 cities on categories like affordability, economic environment, and quality of the local real estate market, then ranked them nationally. Frisco came in #1 in the affordability and economic environment category specifically. Income and job growth in Frisco have kept up with home prices better than almost anywhere else in the study.
Why did Frisco rank #1 nationally?
Three numbers drove the result. Nearly 47% of Frisco's housing stock was built between 2010 and 2024, the highest share of newer homes in the study. The city posted the 7th-best job growth rate in the country. And home prices in Frisco take up a smaller share of household income than 95% of the other cities ranked. Frisco has built enough new housing and added enough jobs to keep costs from outpacing what people earn there, which is uncommon in a market that's grown this fast.
How did McKinney, Denton, and Allen do?
McKinney took the #2 spot nationally, right behind Frisco. Denton came in at #5 and Allen at #8 — all four in the top 8 out of 300 cities studied. For comparison, Dallas ranked #71 and Plano #61. It's the fast-growing Collin and Denton County suburbs, not the core city, driving DFW's national reputation right now.
What's actually fueling this growth?
Two major job announcements line up with the ranking. Public Storage is relocating its entire corporate headquarters to Frisco's HALL Park this year, bringing about 300 jobs and 119,000 square feet of office space — the largest out-of-state HQ relocation to DFW by square footage since 2021. A few miles south, AT&T is building a new 54-acre global headquarters campus in Plano's Legacy District, consolidating offices from across the Metroplex into one location. Job growth like this is exactly what shows up in a ranking like WalletHub's.
What does this mean if you're buying in Frisco or McKinney right now?
A national #1 ranking usually brings more buyers, which can tighten competition on well-priced homes in the areas driving the result. A few things worth doing because of it:
- Get pre-approved now, before you start touring — buyer interest can shift fast after a ranking like this, even before anything changes on the ground.
- Look closely at newer-build inventory — Frisco's high share of 2010-2024 construction means there's real selection in newer homes, not just resale.
- Pay attention to the job growth, not just the ranking — new employers moving in is a better long-term signal for home values than a single year's award.
What does this mean if you're selling in Frisco or McKinney right now?
National attention doesn't replace accurate pricing. Buyers moving here because of a ranking will still compare your home to current local comps, not the headline. It's a good time to make sure your listing backs up the same story: a well-maintained home in a market with real job growth behind it.
Where can I see the full ranking myself?
WalletHub publishes its full 300-city methodology and rankings on its site if you want to see how every DFW-area city scored. If you'd rather know what it means for your specific street or price point, I can walk you through that directly.
Thinking about buying or selling in Frisco, McKinney, or a nearby suburb while this momentum is fresh? Here's how the buying process works, or get in touch and I'll walk through what it means for you.