City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Atlanta and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 135 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Plano is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Atlanta and Plano are 712 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $130 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $112,253 in Plano, up $26,601 (31%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 62 in Plano, down 135 points (69%).
The move
Plano and Atlanta are 712 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $130 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $26,601 (24%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 197 in Atlanta, up 135 points (218%).
Atlanta, GA
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 Atlanta and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 7% cheaper than Plano
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,841 in Plano, so Atlanta is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $130, or $1,560 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
31% higher
Plano's median income is 31% higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
$85,652
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Plano (about $26,601 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. Atlanta can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
69% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 69% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% 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. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Plano weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Atlanta
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 31% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 69% lower than Atlanta (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
Atlanta carries the heavier crime signal on this page (39/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 36-point spread matters more than the $130 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Atlanta rent at $1,711/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Atlanta and 69°F in Plano.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 39/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Atlanta, treat $1,711/month rent and $85,652 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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