It’s getting harder to find cities that offer a good balance of cost and quality of life. But according to the financial website Smart Asset, Plano ranks high among cities that provide both.

The site ranked the city No. 6 on its “Most Undervalued Cities” list, which ranks cities based on the average cost per square foot for housing, and assigns a value to the various quality of living standards. The livability metrics they used included crime rate, unemployment rate, walkability, high school graduation rate, and number of dining and entertainment establishments.

Plano ranked in the top 10 by Smart Asset for the second year in a row. Based on the quality of life measures, Smart Asset’s calculations estimate that Plano real estate is worth up to $263 per square foot. Since the average home value in Plano is only $125 per square foot, that means you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.

It would be hard to call Plano a best-kept secret — or any type of secret. The city’s population has grown by 10 percent just since 2010, after decades of even more substantial growth. It’s now the ninth-largest city in the state of Texas.

Plano ranked well because of its high graduation rates and low unemployment. The city is perennially popular because of its internationally diverse population, great school system, upscale shopping opportunities, increasing number of major employers, and proximity to Downtown Dallas.

As more companies establish a presence in Plano’s Legacy West, it’s likely that quality of life in Plano will only continue to improve.