I've heard stories of people being shocked when they opened their January gas bill. They turned on the winter heating in their spacious single-family home in Plano, and the bill was noticeably higher than usual. This experience prompted them to seriously consider whether to stay in their current home or move to a townhome or condo that requires less maintenance.

If the budget is the same, let's compare how single-family homes and townhomes differ within Plano. Looking at the HOA fees in Collin County, communities focused on single-family homes range from $55 to $160 per month, while master-planned communities with pools and clubhouses are between $200 and $400 per month. Townhomes average $200 to $300 per month, and condos often exceed $400 (based on data from Bay Management Group Texas and dustinpitts.com. Plano city-specific statistics are not available, so data from the nearby Dallas metropolitan area is used instead).

When it comes to electricity bills, the average electricity cost in Plano is $204 per month, with a rate of 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is somewhat lower than nearby Dallas or Fort Worth (based on data from EnergySage). However, many households use gas for winter heating, so it's important to note that electricity bills alone may not give a complete picture of overall heating and cooling costs.

When comparing single-family homes and townhomes side by side, single-family homes tend to have larger heating and cooling areas, which can lead to higher costs for both summer air conditioning and winter heating, with significant variations depending on the condition of the roof and insulation. In contrast, townhomes share walls with neighboring units, which often reduces heating and cooling burdens under similar conditions, and exterior wall and roof maintenance is often included in the HOA fees.

Property taxes should also be considered. The effective property tax rate in Collin County is 1.31 percent, which is relatively low compared to other major counties in Texas (based on data from SmartAsset). For those over 65, a general homestead exemption of $140,000 and an over-65 exemption of $60,000 can combine to exclude $200,000 from the school property tax assessment, and the school property tax is frozen based on the year they turn 65 (as per the passage of SB23 in November 2025).

Ultimately, which option is right depends on the current home's heating and cooling efficiency and the time and energy available for maintenance in the future. If you've been shocked by a heating bill, it might be worth checking the insulation and considering a move to a smaller living space.

One more point to consider is that the shock of winter heating costs usually doesn't end after one year. Unless insulation is improved, there's a high likelihood of receiving similar bills around the same time each year. Conversely, moving to a structure like a townhome that shares walls can reduce this variability, thus decreasing the anxiety of opening bills each winter.

Plano is a popular area among Korean families due to school districts, so many families are considering housing types along with school assignments. However, for those preparing for retirement after their children have become independent, maintenance costs and management burdens often take priority over school districts, and this couple ultimately revisited their housing type at that point.

• Single-family home - larger heating and cooling area, significant cost variations based on insulation condition, low HOA fees
• Townhome - relatively lower heating and cooling burden due to shared walls, $200-$300 monthly HOA, exterior wall and roof maintenance included
• Condo - HOA over $400 per month, most maintenance included

The prices and costs mentioned in this article are based on verified data and may vary by community or county. This is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to consult with a professional before making any actual contracts.