Allen shares an earnest, community-wide drive to aim high, work hard, and achieve personal and collective excellence.
Allen has a drive that runs deep.
It's Football State Championships and the Biggest Band in the Land.
It's spelling bee winners and "A" ratings for schools.
It's about excellence no matter your field.
We talk a lot about Allen's highly-educated population, and it's true that 60% of adults have a bachelors degree or higher.
But we're also a place where you can excel without a 4-year degree. Allen offers jobs in advanced manufacturing and other high-paying sectors, and a Collin College Technical campus to help equip you for it.
You see this broad definition of aspiration in the City organization too.
City employees really want to be the best in what we do...whether that’s excellence in policing.. Or in zero-turn mowing. (We’ve had employees get recognized for both.)
As a result, Allen is consistently ranked among the best places to live in the country, where people feel they can live their very best life.
Security
Security in Allen is peace of mind, where safe neighborhoods, strong schools, economic resilience and stable planning give people the confidence to thrive.
In citizen surveys, safety repeatedly rose to the top of what people like about living in Allen.
But when we dug a little deeper, we discovered that this is more than protection from bodily harm. Residents value the fact that Allen is a safe, in every sense.
Being part of the thriving DFW region inspires confidence that jobs will be plentiful, schools will be well-resourced, home investments will prove prudent, and nationally-ranked medical centers will provide quality care when needed.
This desire for security is also means finding a place where relationships feel rooted. People who move to Allen tend to stay put, forging emotional ties that are not easily forsaken for promising job transfers or homes that better fit their "grown and flown” families. At the same time, Allen is home to many transplants—people from outside the area who know the strain of starting over and appreciate the comfort and security they've found in this welcoming community.
The City reinforces this sense of security with strong finances, risk-averse planning, and a commitment to taking care of its people —whether through public safety, parks, or programs that make life healthier and more resilient. In Allen, safety isn’t just a service; it’s part of the way we look out for each other.
Ease
Allen strikes the perfect balance between a big city and a small town. With great amenities close to home and easy access to more, everyday life can be simpler and more enjoyable.
Some have described Allen as a goldilocks city: far enough from the noise to feel like home, but close enough to the action to stay connected. Want to see a hockey game or take the kids to Disney on Ice? It's easy. Want to grab sushi before an outdoor concert? It's easy. Not sure you have the right thing to wear? Don't worry, Allen's not stuffy like that, we're easy.
Allen is small enough that nothing ever seems far away, but big enough that you don’t have many reasons to leave. When you must venture out of Allen, being at the crossroads of 75 and 121 means that airports, jobs, and largescale entertainment is easy to access.
This concept of “ease” also shows up in our planning efforts. The City looks for ways to make our services easy - investing in tools like WaterSmart and the MyAllen app. Allen’s parks and trails master plan has a goal of putting every Allen resident within a 10-minute walk to a park, a great example of how we value simple pleasures and everyday quality of life.
One comment EDC hears all the time is, wow - we work with a lot of EDCs and your team makes this so easy.
It also relates to Brandy's "home base" campaign - In Allen, it's easy to get anywhere, and when you come home to Allen – we're a place where you can take it easy.
Simply put, Allen is a community where the good stuff is easy to access, and where the City works proactively to enhance and simplify your everyday life.
Intention
Allen is a community that lives with purpose: investing time, money and effort to build a high-quality life.
People might say they feel "lucky" to live in Allen, but really - it's often good planning that brought them here. Allen people are intentional with their decisions about how to spend their time and money, and that’s especially true of their choice of a place to live. You might get a less expensive home in Garland, or more square footage in Melissa, but most residents considered those trade-offs "worth it" for the benefits of living in Allen.
They are likely to be invested and involved with causes they care about, and tend to put more stock in how they spend their hours than how they spend their dollars. They appreciate communication that explains not just “what” is happening, but “why,” and are satisfied when explanations show planning and foresight.
The City mirrors that mindset, planning for sustained greatness and curating growth rather than chasing quick wins. Decisions are anchored in accountability to residents: mindful of the past, sensitive to the present, and shaping a future that we can all feel good about living in.
This intentionality is to credit for preserving what many describe as a "smalltown charm" while allowing a future full of possibility. Residents benefit from steady-handed leadership, knowing their city is secure, well-resourced, and playing the long game right alongside them.
Togetherness
Deep connections and a true sense of belonging binds Allen together, forming a community stronger than the sum of its parts.
Relationships are the glue that holds Allen together. Residents constantly weave in and out of each others’ lives, creating a strong community fabric that includes faith communities, professional networks, neighborhood circles, and school groups.
People often say “Allen loves Allen,” and it shows: residents shop and dine locally to support hometown businesses, volunteer with Allen organizations, and plan outings that take advantage of Allen’s local sporting events and cultural offerings.
Allen’s built environment takes its cues from—and contributes to—this sense of togetherness.
One primary high school, one library, and large community events keep lives in sync, bridging differences and creating shared experiences that are rare in communities this size.
These structural forces didn’t happen by accident, but are the intentional work of leaders past and present. The result is an authentic community that typically cannot be achieved in a city the size of Allen.
While some tight-knit communities can feel exclusive, Allen takes a different path. New neighbors are welcomed with warmth and optimism for the futures they’re building here. With many shared values, common ground is easy to find. Allen’s growing diversity is seen as a strength, and residents take pride in making room at the table for someone new.
Within City Hall, togetherness is more than a value; it’s the way things get done. Employees describe Allen’s culture as collaborative and team-minded, where departments work side by side to solve problems instead of guarding turf.
This approach shines during citywide challenges, When “all hands on deck” moments pull staff together, bonds are forged that continue long after the crisis ends. Over time, this has created a workforce culture where collaboration isn’t just expected, but celebrated. Employees see community
members as more than customers, they are collaborators – and we take pride in what we are building together.
