There are more than 30,000 cities in the United States and Allen is ranked number two in the nation for real estate according to WalletHub, a website that helps people make financial decisions and also provides house buying tips.

“First, home buyers should make sure the neighborhood has the amenities they foresee needing,” professor of financial and real estate of the University of Connecticut John Harding said in an interview for WalletHub. “For example, families with school age children or who anticipate school age children should consider the schools—convenience and proximity. Other needed amenities will depend on the family’s needs. For example, transportation, shopping, recreation etc. For most homebuyers, neighborhood safety is an important issue and can be reviewed with crime statistics.”

Average home sales in Allen rose near the end of 2012 to $300,000.

“Suddenly, prices started to increase in 2013 and they really went up this year. Builders could not buy new lots and prices of supplies and contractors shot up,” real estate agent Cynthia Brugge said. “Now new construction has gone up radically and made way for pre-owned home [prices] to go up.”

New houses and buildings are being built to accommodate the growing population in the city.

“My clients love Allen,” Brugge said. “Many of them debate between going to Lovejoy ISD, where the district is smaller and well run by and excellent superintendent or whether they want [their children] to go to an immense large school, like Allen ISD, where the high school is like a small college.”

Many people are pulled to Allen because of jobs and the highly rated schools in the area.

“People want to live in Allen because they can educate their children in public school feeling content that they will get an excellent education and that their children will be safe at school,” Brugge said. “Allen has invested in many amenities that make it a great place for families to raise their children. It is also well run, clean, safe, and the streets provide great access to the remainder of the metroplex where people have jobs.”

Some of the most popular zip codes are 75002 and 75013, and both cities are filling with young people. The only school districts available are Lovejoy and Allen ISD, which also contribute to the rising population of the city.

“[My family] moved because I was going to the Allen schools before and they thought that Lovejoy provided a better education,” freshman Diane Bao said. “Moving here has been great. There are lots of activities here, and they are really close.”

Allen is a city that is growing rapidly, and many people have found it as an ideal place to live.

“Face it, Collin County offers an assortment of great school districts in clean, safe, beautiful cities and we offer a very inexpensive college education as well,” Brugge said. “You cannot beat it….and of course, I am and will always be especially proud of Lovejoy ISD.”