Central Plano Apartment Locator: Plano ISD at Lower Rent
Our Central Plano apartment locator team checked 12 places this week, and 5 of them have specials. Prices start at $1,020 a month after free rent. Central Plano is the middle of the city, west of US-75 and east of the Tollway. Older garden communities line Custer, Independence and Park, inside Plano ISD, and they often rent for less than the newer buildings to the west. Downtown Plano Station sits just across US-75 if you'd rather ride than drive.
- Typical 1 bedroom
- $1,361/mo
- Places with homes available
- 12
- With a special
- 42%
- Our help costs you
- $0
After free rent, before fees. Checked . See this week's deals
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Costs you nothing
Your list and our help are free
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No credit pull
We never touch your screening report
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We reply during our hours
Mon to Fri, 9:00am to 6:00pm. Your budget and move date are all we need.
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TREC #562021
Spirit Real Estate Group
Central Plano apartments by size this week
We checked 12 places in Central Plano on November 6, 2026. Prices count any firm free rent, spread over the lease, and are before fees. Pick your size to see the best deals.
This week in Central Plano
Price by building age, after free rent
On a 1 bedroom here, older buildings run about $437 a month less than newer ones. If price matters most, start with them.
On a 2 bedroom here, older buildings run about $756 a month less than newer ones. If price matters most, start with them.
42%
of places here have a move-in special
Firm free rent offers here give about 4 weeks.
−$62
typical 3 bedroom since November 1
Prices here are easing. A good week to look.
Renting a house or an apartment in Central Plano?
A 3 bedroom house here runs about $221 a month less than a 3 bedroom apartment, even after the apartment's free rent.
With a house you usually get a yard, more room and no shared walls. You often pay water, trash and yard care yourself, and deposits can run higher.
With an apartment you pay community fees each month for things like parking, trash and amenities. Free rent usually needs a lease of 12 months or more, and the staff on site handles repairs.
House rents: Rentometer, Oct 2026, houses rented in Central Plano in the past 12 months. Apartment prices: our check of 12 communities this week, after free rent and before fees.
Our picks in Central Plano
Places we like right now, in each kind of building. Tell us your budget, and we'll send the names and floor plans.
Newer buildings
Built or redone since 2015
Middle age buildings
Mostly built 1995 to 2014
Find your best deal in Central Plano
Pick what you want. We compare each deal with buildings like it here: same size, about the same age.
Circles show the general area, not the building. Numbers match the deals below.
1 / 8Top deal on this list
$245 below similar 1 bedrooms here
1 month free on a 12‑month lease
$1,243
/mo net effective
1 bed · 680 sq ft · $1,356 listed · You save about $1,360
Class A · Built 2020 · 4.5+ stars on Google
Down $69 since November 1 · 36 homes available this week
Get the name and floor plan
1 / 6★ Our pick$29 below similar studios here
Studio · 602 sq ft · $2.11 per sq ft
Plano · Class A · Built 2019 · 4+ stars on Google
4 homes available this week
1 month free on some homes
$1,270/moGet the name
1 / 8$240 below similar 2 bedrooms here
2 bed · 1,080 sq ft · $1.72 per sq ft
Plano · Class A · Built 2021 · 3.5+ stars on Google
Up $21 since November 1 · 8 homes available this week
$750 off on select apartment homes if moved in within 30 days
$1,861/moGet the name
1 / 8$233 below similar 3 bedrooms here
3 bed · 1,361 sq ft · $1.75 per sq ft
Richardson · Class B · Built 2013 · 4+ stars on Google
2 homes available this week
No special needed
$2,383/moGet the name
Prices are rent only. Monthly fees and the deposit are extra. Ask for your list, and we'll send the names and floor plans.
Nothing here matches all of that this week. Tell us what you want and we'll look for buildings that fit.
Why our prices are lower than what the community quotes
When a community gives free rent, we spread it over the whole lease and show what you pay a month on average. The community quotes the full rent, and many take the free rent off your first months. You pay the same total either way. Our way lets you compare one deal with another. Fees and the deposit are extra.
Why our prices are lower than what the community quotes
When a community gives free rent, we spread it over the whole lease and show what you pay a month on average. The community quotes the full rent, and many take the free rent off your first months. You pay the same total either way. Our way lets you compare one deal with another. Fees and the deposit are extra.
See all the numbers: prices by size, newer vs. older, week by week
Prices by size
"Middle half" is the range half the places here start in. A price under it beats about 3 in 4 places.
| Size | Typical | Cheapest | Middle half | Per sq ft | Since November 1 | Places open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,299 | $1,270 | n/a | $2.34 | down $25 | 3 |
| 1 bed | $1,361 | $1,020 | $1,112 to $1,514 | $1.93 | up $5 | 12 |
| 2 bed | $1,903 | $1,278 | $1,583 to $2,061 | $1.71 | down $5 | 12 |
| 3 bed | $2,616 | $2,210 | $2,383 to $2,768 | $1.84 | down $62 | 5 |
Newer vs. older buildings
Newer means built or redone since 2015. Middle means mostly 1995 to 2014. Older means built before 1995. Prices are for a 1 bedroom. How we sort them
| Buildings | Typical 1 bed | With a special | Usual weeks free | Per sq ft | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newer (Class A) | $1,488 | 50% | 4 weeks | $2.14 | 6 |
| Middle (Class B) | $1,484 | 33% | n/a | $1.75 | 3 |
| Older (Class C) | $1,051 | 33% | n/a | $1.61 | 3 |
Prices week by week
The typical price from each weekly check since Oct 28. A line heading down means prices here are easing.
Each place's price is its lowest listed available apartment of that size, after any firm free rent and before fees. We leave out income restricted, tax credit, 55+ and student housing. Prices can change any day, so get the final price in writing from the building before you apply.
Areas we cover in and around Central Plano
Downtown Plano Arts DistrictDowntown Plano centers on 15th Street just east of US-75, where Downtown Plano station on the Red and Orange lines sits next to Haggard Park.
Midsize apartment buildings stand beside brick storefronts, and the Silver Line's 12th Street station is a few blocks south.
Custer Road CorridorCuster Road runs north and south through central Plano west of US-75, with garden complexes from the 1980s and shopping centers at the big crossings.
It's in Plano ISD, with Spring Creek Parkway and the Bush Turnpike as the quick ways across town.
Independence Parkway AreaOne major road west of Custer, Independence Parkway runs from the Bush Turnpike north past Park Boulevard and Spring Creek Parkway.
Rentals are older garden apartments and leased houses, and the Tollway is a few miles farther west.
Park Boulevard CorridorPark Boulevard crosses Plano from the Tollway to east of US-75, and its middle stretch near Custer and Independence has older apartments and strip centers.
Downtown Plano and the Red Line are a short, direct drive east.
Central Plano Apartments With More Room Than the Tollway Side
- Floor plans on Custer and Independence compared with west Plano, with size and price side by side
- We ask about water and trash billing at the older buildings, where a split bill can wipe out a lower rent
- Buildings within a walk of Downtown Plano Station pointed out if you want the Red Line
Getting Around Central Plano: DART Red Line and US-75 Access
US-75 forms the east edge, so a run south to Richardson or north to Allen is quick from almost any address. Park Boulevard and Spring Creek Parkway carry traffic across town, and the Bush Turnpike caps the south end for trips to Garland or the Tollway.
The train is the big difference from the rest of the northern suburbs. Downtown Plano Station, beside Haggard Park, puts the Red Line within reach of the older streets just across the freeway. Parker Road Station, where the line ends, sits by US-75 at the north end. A short walk to either one makes going without a second car realistic.
Older Garden Apartments on Custer and Independence: What to Check
Most apartments here were built in the 1980s and 1990s along Custer Road, Independence Parkway and Park Boulevard. Units often run larger than in the newer Tollway buildings. The tradeoff? Older kitchens, surface parking and fewer amenities.
Screening at these communities follows set rules, but many will take a lease guarantee company, a bigger deposit or a co-signer when income is solid and credit is not. The newer buildings near Downtown Plano Station and along US-75 screen tighter and add amenity fees.
Ask how water and trash are billed, since it's easy to miss. A number of the older Custer and Independence buildings divide one bill among all the units by formula, so your share moves with the building's use, not just yours.
Everyday life in central Plano
Central Plano runs from the older streets west of Independence east to US-75 and Downtown Plano. It's roomier and older, with a creek trail through the middle and trains at 15th Street.
- Central Plano by car and bike
- The creek trail through the middle
- Downtown Plano nights
- Groceries and what's coming
- Balloons in fall and lights in December
- What we tell renters here
Central Plano by car and bike
By our drive times, most of central Plano is about 20 minutes from Legacy West at 8am, and Downtown Dallas is about 46. DFW Airport is about 37. The Bush Turnpike crosses the south end of Plano and is the quick way west toward the airport. For short trips, the Chisholm Trail's underpasses let you bike north and south without crossing a major road.
Chisholm Trail
Ride it to Downtown Plano for dinner on a weekend evening; the underpasses mean no waiting at big intersections.
- Bike rides
- Evening walks
The creek trail through the middle
The Chisholm Trail follows Spring Creek through central Plano, a wide paved path that ducks under Parker Road, Alma Drive and Park Boulevard instead of crossing them. It ends at East 15th Street, just west of US-75, near Downtown Plano. Big Lake Park and Copper Creek Park sit along it. The tunnel under Parker Road closes when the creek floods.
Haggard Park
Downtown Plano's green square by the train; sit out with takeout on 15th Street or come for the December tree lighting.
- Holiday events
- Picnic dinners
Big Lake Park
A stop along the creek trail for a lap around the water or a rest in the shade on a long ride.
- Short walks
- Trail breaks
Downtown Plano nights
Downtown Plano's 15th Street has the area's best walking strip of restaurants and bars, set in old brick storefronts a few steps from the train. Haggard Park sits beside it, with the Interurban Railway Museum at its edge. Park once and walk the few blocks, or take the Red Line in and skip parking.
Downtown Plano
Walk 15th Street on a Friday night for dinner and drinks, then catch the train home from the station on the same block.
- Dinner out
- Weekend drinks
Groceries and what's coming
Plano's H-E-B sits at Preston Road and Spring Creek Parkway, west of central Plano. Closer in, the old Collin Creek Mall site on US-75 is being rebuilt as a neighborhood of homes, offices and shops that opens in phases.
Collin Creek
The old mall site on US-75 is turning into shops and homes; check which stores are open before you count on it.
- Future shopping
- Store errands
Balloons in fall and lights in December
Dickens in Historic Downtown Plano lights the tree in Haggard Park on a Saturday in early December, with readings of The Polar Express at the Interurban Railway Museum. In September, the Plano Balloon Festival fills Oak Point Park in east Plano, with balloons up in the early mornings and evenings.
Oak Point Park
Go for the balloon festival in September, or walk its trails on a cool morning the rest of the year.
- Balloon festival
- Nature walks
What we tell renters here
Balloon festival weekend brings heavy traffic on Spring Creek Parkway near Oak Point Park, mostly early mornings and evenings when the balloons go up. Collin Creek construction along US-75 near Plano Parkway means lane shifts and trucks for now. The Dickens tree lighting fills the 15th Street blocks that Saturday evening, so park early or ride the train in.
Central Plano questions
Can I get Plano ISD for less than west Plano prices?
Often, at the older garden communities. The ones on Custer, Independence and Park sit in Plano ISD and usually rent for less than the newer Tollway buildings. Newer buildings near Downtown Plano cost more. The district's boundary doesn't match the city limits, so confirm the street first.
How much apartment do I get here versus west Plano?
Often more, in the older buildings. Their two and three bedroom plans often top 1,100 square feet. Compare the actual floor plans you're quoted, since sizes swing from one complex to the next. This week, two bedrooms in this part of town go for about $1,903 after specials.
Can I get by here without a car?
Only near the rail stops. An address within a walk of Downtown Plano or Parker Road Station gets you the Red Line south to Richardson and Dallas; farther west toward Independence, plan on driving. Map the walk from the actual building before you count on it.
Is water metered per unit or split across residents?
That varies by building. Some older Custer and Independence communities split water and trash by formula instead of metering each unit, so your bill rises with your neighbors' use. Ask how it's billed and add it to the rent before you compare.
Which properties work with low credit here?
The older communities along Custer, Independence and Park are the best bet. They screen by written rules, but many will say yes with conditions, such as a guarantor, a larger deposit or a co-signer, if pay is solid. Our low credit guide explains each route.
Is there an apartment locator near Central Plano?
There is. We keep notes on the garden communities between Custer and US-75, including which ones split water bills and which have taken a guarantor. That helps your list skip places that likely won't work. Tell us your budget and whether the Red Line matters.
Near Central Plano
For newer buildings, look west toward the Tollway; for more rail stops and the Telecom Corridor, look south to Richardson.
Looking in Central Plano?
Give us a budget and a bedroom count, and we'll send the Custer and Independence places with the most space for it.
renting with low credit · counting split utility bills · this week's Dallas rents
Free to renters · No credit pull · Brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, TREC #562021