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Dallas neighbor has 8th most moved-to U.S. ZIP code of 2025

McKinney is popular for numerous reasons.

Photo courtesy of City of McKinney

The Dallas area has already proved it's one of the hottest destinations for Americans on the move, but a new study has revealed one neighboring city to be a standout: McKinney, the primo of Collin County, has attracted the eighth-highest number of new residents of any studied U.S. city in 2025.

McKinney's 75071 ZIP code ranked No. 8 on MovingPlace's new list of the 10 most popular U.S. ZIP codes for movers in 2025.

The report analyzed more than 6.38 million moves that occurred between January and May 2025, and ranked the U.S. cities that had the most moves by ZIP code.

During the first five months of the year, McKinney's 75071 ZIP had 2,895 inbound moves, the eighth-highest number of moves out of all ZIP codes in the nation.

The report says the booming suburb is a suitable place for families and young professionals based on its quiet lifestyle, its historic downtown district, and its proximity to Dallas for commuters.

"McKinney offers a mix of old-town character and modern growth, attracting residents who want a strong sense of community with access to city jobs," the report's author wrote. "The city has big plans, with a host of multi-billion-dollar projects in the works, including a massive mixed‑use district, adventure park, and a JW Marriott resort."

There's so much more to love about McKinney, such as its affordability and its high safety rating. The North Dallas neighbor was also ranked the No. 1 best city for renters earlier in 2025. It also just topped WalletHub's ranking as the No. 1 real estate market in 2025.

Other top ZIPs in Texas
Texas remains a top destination for movers in 2025, with six total ZIP codes earning top-10 spots on MovingPlace's list, including Houston-area city Cypress, whose 77433 ZIP code ranked No. 1 with the highest number of inbound moves nationally.

The top 10 ZIP codes Americans are moving to in 2025 are:

No. 1 – 77433 in Cypress, Texas
No. 2 – 78130 in New Braunfels, Texas
No. 3 – 34787 in Winter Garden, Florida
No. 4 – 78641 in Leander, Texas
No. 5 – 77493 in Katy, Texas
No. 6 – 85142 in Queen Creek, Arizona
No. 7 – 80134 in Parker, Colorado
No. 8 – 75071 in McKinney, Texas
No. 9 – 95747 in Roseville, California
No. 10 – 78253 in San Antonio, Texas

real estate suburbs zip code zip codes dallas mckinney

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Dallas neighbor declared No. 1 Texas city for first-time homebuyers

Photo courtesy of Arista McKinney

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The Dallas housing market may not be for everyone, but one shining suburb is a cut above the rest. McKinney has been named the best market for first-time homebuyers in Texas, and it's among the 100 best in America, according to a new study.

WalletHub's new study — which analyzes the affordability, quality of life, and real estate market in 300 U.S. cities — ranks McKinney No. 70 overall in the U.S. to buy your first home. And, when broken down by city size, WalletHub ranks McKinney No. 31 out of 102 mid-sized cities in America.

McKinney's outstanding real estate market and quality of life are the biggest appeal for first-time buyers, with affordability its main detractor, according to the report's findings.

The Dallas suburb ranks 9th out of all 300 U.S. cities studied for its housing market, and its quality of life is 61st nationally. The report found McKinney also boasts the second-lowest property crime rates in the U.S. The city's affordability ranking, however, is among the 50 worst, at No. 258, but that wasn't enough to outweigh its stellar performance in the other main categories.

Overall, the Lone Star State has taken a tumble among the best places for first-time buyers. McKinney is the only city in Texas to appear among the top 100, with a total of 20 Texas cities ranking below that section of the report.

For 2026, Dallas plummeted as the second-worst housing market for first-time homebuyers in Texas, ranking No. 233 nationally. Dallas' real estate market is the 60th best in the U.S., but its poor quality of life and affordability scores — No. 248 and No. 252, respectively — significantly brought down the city's overall performance.

This is how WalletHub ranked first-time homebuyer appeal across other cities in North Texas:

No. 106 – Plano
No. 110 – Grand Prairie
No. 111 – Denton
No. 130 – Fort Worth
No. 134 – Frisco
No. 148 – Allen
No. 170 – Richardson
No. 177 – Garland
No. 184 – Arlington
No. 189 – Irving
No. 194 – Carrollton
No. 202 — Mesquite

Laredo (No. 200), San Antonio (No. 208), and Houston (No. 271) join Mesquite and Dallas as the five worst housing markets for first-time buyers in Texas.

First-time buyers across the country are entering the housing market at a difficult time, the report says. The National Association of Realtors reported the share of first-time homebuyers sank to an all-time low in 2025, to 21 percent, whereas the historic national average is 40 percent.

"Buying a home for the first time is an exciting and important milestone for many Americans, but achieving that milestone is getting more difficult as prices and interest rates continue to rise," the report's author wrote. "People willing and able to invest in a house this year must balance what they want and need with what they can afford. Often, people begin searching for their dream home without a realistic idea of market prices, interest rates or even their eligibility for a mortgage."

wallethub real estate housing market first time homebuyers reports