I left a big Texas city for a smaller but fast-growing area nearby. I’m saving money and love the tight-knit community.

The house I bought in Celina was built in 2018. It’s 3,600 square feet and was priced at $700,000.

It has a built-in pool, backdoor patio, grill, and everything I need for my kids. There are little conveniences like USB outlets already built in — it has a lot of things that older homes don’t have. It’s also within walking distance of an elementary school, even though my kids attend a private Christian school.

My house would probably be $1.2 million or $1.3 million in Frisco.

It wasn’t as competitive buying a home in Celina as it was in Frisco, mainly because the interest rates a year ago were so high. But now that interest rates are coming down, I can see more people trying to buy homes in Celina.

Even still, with more people moving in, I haven’t seen a difference in traffic or congestion. However, I do see many new people moving in, different neighborhoods popping up, and new elementary schools.

The neighbors on both sides of my Celina home are from New York, which I think is abnormal.

Many of Frisco’s older neighborhoods have alleyways for parking, which makes socializing difficult since you often just go into the garage and close it. In Celina, most people park in front of their homes, so people wave at you and say, “Hey, how are you? “It feels much more welcoming that way.

I’m saving more money in Celina

Everything is more affordable in Celina than in its larger neighbors, including food establishments.

The cost of dining out in downtown Celina is definitely cheaper than in downtown Dallas — probably about a third of the price.

In Frisco, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys significantly impact the area’s costs of living, including restaurant prices. A single drink can cost $18 there. Such prices are common in Frisco but not in Celina, which is a significant advantage.

For example, on Taco Tuesdays, a local restaurant in Celina offers three tacos, rice, and beans for $7.99. Even a meal at McDonald’s costs around $12.

I think Celina needs more places to shop. People usually have to order from Amazon or drive to Prosper.

They are building a Costco in Celina soon. I think this is good because there still aren’t many food or grocery shopping options. Some people are upset about this because they think it will diminish the small-town feel. However, for someone like me, who grew up in Richardson, a larger city, it’s great.

Overall, I think Celina has met my expectations.

My only complaint is the distance to other cities. When I have to see friends and family or travel to work in Las Colinas, it can be a bit cumbersome.

But as long as you go at a time that’s not traffic-related and your work is flexible enough, I think it’s good.