No. McKinney stopped being a small town a long time ago.

The city is roughly the size of Plano, and nobody calls Plano small. What fools people is downtown. The historic square has held onto its small-town feel so well that plenty of visitors assume the whole city looks like that. It doesn't, and for anyone thinking about moving here, that is good news.

McKinney is a full-size North Texas city with two distinct sides. Older homes sit close to the historic downtown, while newer master-planned communities spread west toward Craig Ranch. You get a walkable, small-town downtown without giving up big-city access and amenities.

Why do people think McKinney is a small town?

Most people only know Downtown. If you have driven up for dinner, walked the square, and grabbed a coffee, you have seen the part of McKinney the city has worked hardest to protect.

Our team actually argued about this while prepping a recent episode of DFW Real Estate Weekly. One side pictured a cute little town. The other pointed out that McKinney is basically Plano-sized. Both were right. The downtown feels small, and the city is not.

That gap matters when you buy. If the square is the reason you fell for McKinney, be honest about how often you will actually be there. A home on the far west side is a real drive from downtown. That works fine when you choose it on purpose and turns into a regret when you don't.

What is the difference between old McKinney and new McKinney?

Old McKinney is the area around the historic downtown, where the homes are older, and the neighborhoods carry more history. New McKinney stretches west, with newer developments, master-planned communities, and more modern homes.

Craig Ranch is the best-known example on the newer side. It is built around a golf course, and a new Marriott resort is going up nearby, which will bring even more visitors into that part of the city.

The right side of McKinney depends on your motivation, the real reason this move matters to you. A buyer who wants to walk to coffee on Saturday morning and a buyer who wants a newer floor plan with less upkeep should not be touring the same streets. Start with the plan, and the map gets a lot smaller.

What is Downtown McKinney like?

Downtown McKinney is walkable and made for lingering. Coffee shops, local boutiques, restaurants, and a comedy club surround the historic square, and the city has kept that character intact while growing up around it.

One member of our team grew up in England and says Downtown McKinney feels like home. In English towns, the high street is the downtown, lined with small shops, coffee places, and bakeries, and people walk it instead of driving it. The walk his family in England takes into town on a weekend sounds a lot like a Saturday on the McKinney Square.

Very few DFW suburbs have a downtown this complete. Downtown Plano has some great restaurants, but it is smaller and feels different. Compared with Frisco, which leans into big development and entertainment districts, McKinney trades some of that energy for a Main Street identity people get attached to. It is one more reason no two DFW cities are really alike.

How easy is it to get around Dallas-Fort Worth from McKinney?

Easy. US-75 runs straight south through Allen, Plano, and Richardson into Dallas, Frisco is a short drive west, and golf courses and major shopping are close by. As growth across the Metroplex keeps pushing north, McKinney sits closer to the action every year.

Air travel is about to get easier too. Commercial passenger flights begin at McKinney National Airport on November 11, 2026, giving people in north Collin County a closer option than DFW or Love Field. We have tracked this project since the expansion plans and the groundbreaking, and it is finally real.

Is now a smart time to buy a home in McKinney?

For a prepared buyer, yes. McKinney prices slid after peaking in 2022, and in 2026 they started climbing again. Inventory is also the highest it has been in at least 10 years, so buyers have more homes to choose from than they have had in a long time.

That combination will not last forever. If McKinney is on your list for the next year, build your game plan now so you can act when the right home shows up instead of scrambling when it does.

Can you still find land in McKinney?

Yes, though not much of it. Only a small share of McKinney listings sit on an acre or more, and most of those are on the northeast edge of the city heading toward New Hope. If you want a home on land and still want a McKinney address, it can be done with patience and a sharp search.

Frequently asked questions about living in McKinney

How big is McKinney compared to Plano?

McKinney is roughly the same size as Plano, just slightly smaller. It is a full-size city, even though its historic downtown has a small-town feel.

What part of McKinney has older homes?

The older homes in McKinney are concentrated near the historic downtown. Newer developments and master-planned communities are mostly on the west side, including the Craig Ranch area.

What is there to do in Downtown McKinney?

Downtown McKinney has walkable streets with coffee shops, local boutiques, restaurants, and a comedy club around its historic square. It is one of the most complete downtowns in the DFW suburbs.

Does McKinney have a commercial airport?

Yes. McKinney National Airport begins commercial passenger service on November 11, 2026, with nonstop flights operated by Avelo Airlines.

How do I decide which part of McKinney fits me?

Start with your motivation, the real reason the move matters to you, and match it to the area. A buyer who wants a walkable downtown and a buyer who wants a newer home with less upkeep will usually end up in very different parts of McKinney.

Ready to find your place in McKinney?

If McKinney is on your list, call or text us at 214-216-2161 before you start touring homes. In that first conversation, a full-time buyer specialist will help you sort old McKinney from new McKinney against your motivation, your budget, and your commute, so your first weekend of showings is spent in the right neighborhoods. If you need to sell your current home first, we will build one coordinated plan for both moves. You can also start at DallasHomeRealty.com.

McKinney is bigger than it looks. Make sure your plan is too.