The lots of homes in the Plum Creek neighborhood are usually large and beautiful.
Close to Route 66 and Amarillo’s medical district
Plum Creek takes its name from Plum Creek Drive, a short road that loops off Route 66. The small neighborhood mainly consists of rental properties, senior care homes and a few fast-food restaurants. The surrounding area has some of Amarillo’s newest homes, and the local economy is boosted by the presence of the city’s medical industry, only a few miles from Plum Creek. Because of its location in thriving west Amarillo, residents able to find a home in Plum Creek will have large parks, steady employers, highly rated public schools and one of Amarillo’s biggest annual festivals all within a few miles.
Plum Creek focuses on rentals and apartments
Housing in Plum Creek is largely rentals or long-term senior care homes, with only one or two standalone properties. There are more single-family homes in surrounding communities like Quail Creek and Westcliff. Both these neighborhoods are newly built in the past two decades and are well-planned with tidy yards and easily walkable sidewalks. New Traditional residences built in the 2000s and onwards, as well as some midcentury ranch homes, are the most common options in these areas and cost between $300,000 to $550,000.
Plum Creek boasts a vast array of large homes, perfect for growing families.
Owners take great pride in maintaining their homes in Plum Creek.
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Amarillo weather, from high winds to floods
Parts of Plum Creek are located inside Amarillo’s floodplain, which covers most of the central and eastern parts of the city. In addition to seasonal flooding, warm weather storms and year-round high winds are a big influence on life throughout Amarillo. “Once you get used to the weather here, it’s just so normal,” says Melissa Atchley, a lifelong Texan and associate broker with Mgroup. “The majority of the time, we’re hot and dry, humidity levels are low, we edge the desert and we get later nights because we’re close to the time zone. And I’ll take the affordability and wind over high prices and mild weather any day.”
The top-rated schools in Amarillo Independent School District
Nearby schools in the Amarillo Independent School District include Woodlands Elementary School and De Zavala Middle School. Niche gave both schools an A grade and the titles of best elementary and middle school in Potter County. Tascosa High School has a B-plus grade, and Niche named it the second-best public high school in Potter County thanks to its AP Capstone Diploma program that lets high schoolers take college-level research courses. Plum Creek is a mile from the west campus of Amarillo College. According to Niche, it is one of the best community colleges in Texas.
Woodlands Elementary School challenges students by offering an all-encompassing curriculum.
Students are challenged to excel at Tascosa High School.
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Buses and cars traverse Route 66
Plum Creek is 5 miles away from downtown Amarillo, and Route 66 runs directly through the neighborhood to connect it to the rest of the city. Amarillo City Transit Route 12 loops Plum Creek, and Route 13 can be accessed from the medical district and covers the west half of the city. Hospitals like Northwest Texas Healthcare System are 2 miles from Plum Creek and are some of the biggest employers on the west side of Amarillo.
Amarillo City Transit is a transportation option for residents of Plum Creek.
Northwest Texas Healthcare System is close to Plum Creek, making it easy for locals to visit.
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Read and walk on the paths of Medi-Park
Medical Center Park — sometimes shortened to “Medi-Park” — is an amenity-packed park in the middle of Amarillo’s medical district. The ample community space is known for the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, the Don Harrington Discovery Center children’s museum and nearly a full mile of walking trails. In 2022, a local Eagle Scout added a “Story Walk” to the Medi-Park. This consists of 17 panels on the walking path that each contain a passage from a children’s book, so young kids can read a full book by the time they finish a walk in the park. The Story Walk is supported by the Amarillo Public Library, and passages from a different book are added to the panels every month. “It helps kids read, and it has the added benefit of keeping them engaged on the path and not chasing ducks or something,” says Bridget Hefner, head of the Amarillo Public Library Northwest Branch.
Medical Center Park offers lots of walking trail for residents nearby.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens are a beautiful, tranquil escape within the city.
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Fresh brewed bubble tea at Feng Cha Amarillo
There are not many large retail centers next to Plum Creek, but there are some stores centered around Route 66, including a United Supermarket and a Walmart. Most dining in the area is fast food along with a few locally owned options. Tacqueria El Tapatio on West Amarillo Boulevard serves platters of Mexican food every day of the week, and Feng Cha Amarillo on Gem Lake Road prepares cold fruit and bubble teas. Aside from rental properties and fast-service restaurants, houses of worship are the most prominent part of Plum Creek. Hillside Christian Church on Plum Creek Drive is another major presence in the neighborhood, and the Islamic Center of Amarillo is less than a mile away on Quail Creek Drive.
For groceries, residents of Plum Creek can visit United Supermarkets for various needs.
You can enjoy delicious sandwiches and coffee at Strata Coffee Bar near Plum Creek.
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Car and cattle shows at the Route 66 festival
Route 66 is one of Amarillo’s biggest claims to fame, and the highway at the center of Plum Creek is celebrated each summer with the annual Route 66 Festival. The 10-day festival has a changing schedule every year, but attendees can always expect classic car shows, rodeos, live music and a cattle parade.
Written By
Delaney Murray
Photography Contributed By
Chon Kit Leong
Video By
Matt Ferguson
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Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
427
Median Age
48
Population under 18
22%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
29.7%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$86,111
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$128,683
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.4%
College Graduates
43.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
22%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
20''
Average Winter Low Temperature
25°F
Average Summer High Temperature
93°F
Annual Snowfall
4''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
37/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
28/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
19/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
