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Why Move to Anna, Texas?

8 Reasons This Small Town Is Booming

If you’ve been house-hunting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, chances are Anna, Texas has crossed your radar. What used to be a sleepy railroad town of a few thousand people has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire country, and for good reason. Here’s what’s drawing so many new residents north of McKinney.

1. It’s genuinely one of the fastest-growing cities in America

This isn’t just marketing talk. Anna’s population went from roughly 17,000 in 2020 to over 39,000 by 2026, more than doubling in six years. Census data released in 2026 put Anna in the top five fastest-growing cities in the U.S. among towns over 20,000 people, with a 10.2% jump in a single year alone. The city itself has projected growth to around 100,000 residents by 2050.

That kind of growth means new roads, new retail, and new infrastructure are constantly being built. You’re getting in on a city that’s actively investing in its own future rather than one that’s already maxed out.

2. Affordability that’s hard to find closer to Dallas

Compared to the pricier, more built-out suburbs closer to Dallas proper, Anna offers noticeably more house for your money. Homes tend to sit on larger lots, new construction is abundant (over 5,000 homes built since 2015), and the lower land costs translate into a lower per-square-foot price than you’ll find in central Collin County. If you’re being priced out of McKinney, Frisco, or Allen, Anna is often the next logical stop north.

3. Easy access to the whole Metroplex

Anna sits along US Highway 75, State Highway 5, and State Highway 121, with five major highways intersecting nearby. That means:

About 40–45 minutes to downtown Dallas

15 minutes to McKinney National Airport

Roughly 45 minutes to DFW International Airport

Quick access to McKinney, Sherman, and the broader job market along the 75 corridor

You get small-town living without being cut off from the metro area’s job centers, airports, and healthcare systems (Medical City McKinney and Baylor Scott & White are both just minutes away).

4. A real, honest-to-goodness small-town feel

Anna still has the things that make a small town a small town: neighbors who know each other, a Friday night football game that’s a genuine community event, and a slower pace than you’ll find in Dallas high-rises or dense inner suburbs. For families or anyone burned out on big-city anonymity, that’s a major draw.

5. A growing, well-resourced school district

Anna ISD is a fast-growth 5A district serving more than 6,000 students across five elementary schools, two middle schools, and Anna High School, with enrollment climbing every year. The district has been expanding facilities and resources to keep pace with the population boom, rather than trying to squeeze more kids into aging buildings.

6. Jobs are moving north too

The growth isn’t just residential. Texas Instruments’ semiconductor plant in nearby Sherman has been a major employment driver pulling workers, and their families, into the Anna area. The city’s Economic Development Corporation has also focused on attracting retail, service, and light industrial businesses, meaning more local jobs and amenities are arriving each year instead of everything staying concentrated in Dallas.

7. Parks, lakes, and outdoor space

If you want room to breathe, Anna delivers. Natural Springs Park and Slayter Creek Park offer walking trails, sports fields, and playgrounds, and Forrest Moore Park adds even more green space. Lavon Lake is a short drive away for boating and weekend getaways, a nice contrast to the concrete-heavy recreation options in the urban core.

8. You’re getting in early

Fast-growing towns like Anna go through a window where affordability, land availability, and small-town charm all coexist before the next wave of growth catches up. Anna’s home values have appreciated over 21% in the last decade, and with the population still expected to more than double by 2050, buying in now, whether for a home or a business, means getting in before the next price tier kicks in.

The trade-offs to know about

To be fair, Anna isn’t for everyone. The commute into Dallas is real (30–45+ minutes depending on where you’re headed), local retail and dining options are still catching up to the population, and a rapidly growing town means construction, traffic changes, and evolving infrastructure will be part of daily life for a while. If you want dense urban amenities within walking distance, Anna won’t scratch that itch yet.

Bottom line

Anna, Texas offers a rare combination in today’s DFW market: relative affordability, small-town community, and highway access to a major metro, all in a city that’s actively growing rather than already built out. If you’re weighing a move north of McKinney, Anna is one of the clearer value plays in the region right now.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; City of Anna, TX; Anna Economic Development Corporation; Anna ISD.

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An Elevated Living Experience

Breaking Ground on Anna’s Future

Watch the groundbreaking celebration and see the vision for Sherley Farms begin to take shape.

The future of Sherley Farms is officially underway.

On March 25th, 2026, community leaders, development partners, and members of the Anna community gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of Sherley Farms, marking the beginning of construction on what will become one of North Texas’ most distinctive master-planned communities.

Spanning more than 970 acres just minutes from downtown Anna, Sherley Farms is being thoughtfully developed around a simple but powerful idea: creating a community where wellness, connection, and the land itself play a meaningful role in everyday life. At completion, the community is planned to include approximately 3,000 homes, more than 150 acres of open space, miles of trails, unique amenities, and a 65-acre working organic farm that will serve as the heart of the neighborhood.

The groundbreaking celebration represented more than the start of construction. It marked the beginning of a long-term vision shared by Tellus Group, the City of Anna, and future residents who will call Sherley Farms home.

“Sherley Farms reflects our belief that the future of community development is rooted in wellness, connection, and a deep respect for the land,” said Craig Martin, CEO and founding partner of Tellus Group, during the announcement of the groundbreaking.

As development moves forward, the first phase will introduce the community’s initial amenity center, resort-style pool, Central Green gathering spaces, trail connections, and the first phase of the organic working farm. The farm is envisioned as both an agricultural asset and a community gathering place, offering opportunities for fresh produce, educational experiences, and events that bring neighbors together.

Sherley Farms also represents a significant investment in Anna’s future. Community leaders have highlighted the project’s ability to support thoughtful growth, attract new residents, strengthen local businesses, and contribute to the city’s long-term economic vitality.

For those who have been following the story of Sherley Farms, the groundbreaking is an exciting reminder that the vision is becoming reality. Every new trail, green space, home, and farm field will contribute to a community designed to encourage connection—to nature, to neighbors, and to a healthier way of living.

The first homesites are expected to be delivered in late 2026, with model homes anticipated to open in spring 2027. Until then, this groundbreaking serves as the first chapter in what promises to be an extraordinary future for Sherley Farms and the City of Anna.

Stay tuned for more construction updates, community milestones, and behind-the-scenes looks as Sherley Farms continues to grow.

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