What to Expect When You Land in Anna
Anna gets a lot of newcomers these days, and they tend to arrive with the same stack of questions about utilities, schools, commute times, and where to grab a decent meal. This guide pulls together honest, practical answers drawn from city records and local knowledge so you can get your bearings without having to dig through a dozen different websites.
Setting Up Utilities: Water, Trash, and Recycling
The first call most new residents make is to the City of Anna Utility Billing Department, which handles water, sewer, trash, and recycling for the city. The office is located at 120 West 7th Street and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city partners with CARDS for trash and recycling pickup, and you can manage payments online once your account is established. Getting this set up before your move-in date saves a lot of headaches.
Schools: Anna ISD at a Glance
Anna ISD is the sole public school district serving the city, and it is growing fast to keep pace with the population. The district currently operates five elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, and an alternative program for grades 6 through 12. In 2025, the district purchased nearly 200 acres of land for new school construction, and a groundbreaking was held in November 2025 for Ora Bell Russell Elementary, which is scheduled to open for the 2027-2028 school year. Families moving into newer subdivisions should confirm their attendance zone directly with Anna ISD, since boundaries shift as new campuses come online.
The Commute: Anna to Dallas and the Corridor
Anna sits about 44 to 45 miles north of Dallas via US-75, and on a reasonable day the drive to downtown Dallas runs roughly 45 to 55 minutes. The Legacy and Plano business corridor is closer, generally 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Most residents heading south take US-75 South, also known as Central Expressway, which connects directly to the major employment centers. The honest trade-off is well understood here: buyers accept a longer drive in exchange for newer construction and lower price points than closer-in suburbs.
Property Taxes, Homestead Exemptions, and MUD Districts
Anna’s median effective property tax rate runs approximately 1.65 percent based on Collin County property records, which is a reasonable starting point for budgeting. Texas homeowners are entitled to a mandatory school district homestead exemption, which for 2026 sits at $140,000 following voter approval of Proposition 13 in November 2025 — meaning school district taxes are calculated on your home’s assessed value minus that amount. File your exemption with the Collin Central Appraisal District as soon as you close; the deadline is April 30 of the tax year. One detail that catches new residents off guard: many of Anna’s newer subdivisions sit within Municipal Utility Districts or Public Improvement Districts, which layer additional charges onto your tax bill. Ask your builder or title company to spell out every district before you sign.
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Anna’s two main parks cover very different ground, and both are worth knowing about early.
Slayter Creek Park is the city’s largest community park, with sports fields, playgrounds, a splash pad, walking trails, and covered pavilions that see heavy use for birthday parties and neighborhood gatherings. The park also features resurfaced pickleball courts and basketball hoops, making it a regular stop for residents looking to be active without driving far.
Sherley Heritage Park is a smaller but meaningful space that reflects Anna’s history along the rail line. It includes a community-built, train-themed playground, a newly restored train depot, and a pavilion. If you want to understand where Anna came from before the growth wave, this is the place to spend an afternoon.
Grocery and Dining Options
Anna’s retail picture is still filling in, but there is more here than many newcomers expect. Brookshire’s and Walmart are the established grocery options for daily shopping. A Kroger Marketplace is under construction as the anchor tenant of the Rosamond Crossing shopping center, with an anticipated opening in 2027, which will meaningfully expand local options. On the dining side, Crow’s Country Cafe and Gar Hole Bar and Grill represent the local flavor, and multiple Mexican restaurants round out the independent scene. Chains including Texas Roadhouse and Chipotle have opened in recent years as the city’s retail base has matured.
How Fast Is Anna Growing, and Is That Likely to Continue?
The numbers are striking: Anna’s estimated 2025 population is 35,245, compared to 16,896 in the 2020 Census. That is roughly a doubling in five years. The city is operating under the Anna 2050 Comprehensive Plan, which frames this growth as a deliberate transition from a bedroom community into a more self-sufficient city with its own employment base and amenities. The City of Anna website publishes planning documents and development updates if you want to track what is coming to your corner of town.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start water and trash service when I move to Anna?
Contact the City of Anna Utility Billing Department at 120 West 7th Street, or visit annatexas.gov/865/Utility-Billing. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and online payment is available once your account is active.
What school district serves Anna, TX?
Anna ISD serves the entire city. The district runs five elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school, with additional campuses in development. Check annaisd.net for current attendance zone maps, as boundaries are actively changing with new construction.
Does Anna, TX have a homestead exemption, and where do I file?
Yes. File with the Collin Central Appraisal District at collincad.org before April 30 of the tax year in which you close. The school district homestead exemption for 2026 is $140,000. Also ask whether your subdivision falls within a MUD or PID district, as those add separate charges.
How long is the commute from Anna to Dallas?
Plan for roughly 45 to 55 minutes to downtown Dallas and 30 to 40 minutes to the Plano and Legacy corridor on a typical day, traveling south on US-75. Rush-hour conditions on Central Expressway can extend those times, so it is worth doing a trial run during peak hours before committing.
