City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 231 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Albuquerque wins on cost of living and Plano wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Albuquerque at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Albuquerque and Plano are 587 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $696 a month (61%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $112,253 in Plano, up $43,936 (64%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 62 in Plano, down 231 points (79%).
The move
Plano and Albuquerque are 587 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $696 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $43,936 (39%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 293 in Albuquerque, up 231 points (373%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 38% cheaper than Plano
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,841 in Plano, so Albuquerque is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $696/month back in your pocket ($8,352/year). Over five years that's $41,760 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Plano, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Albuquerque is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
64% higher
Plano's median income is 64% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 64% higher in Plano (about $43,936 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Plano is the stronger labor market on paper. Albuquerque can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
79% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 79% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 79% lower in Plano. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Plano is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Albuquerque and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Albuquerque
65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 64% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 79% lower than Albuquerque (62 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Plano: Plano scores 75/100 versus 27/100 in Albuquerque, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $1,145. I would vet the exact ZIP in Albuquerque before trading 48 safety points for housing savings.
Plano still pays more locally ($112,253 median income vs $68,317), which can offset the lease if your field pays Plano rates.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 27/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Albuquerque, treat $1,145/month rent and $68,317 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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