City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Plano. Boston averages 50°F while Plano averages 69°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,147 versus $1,841.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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 Boston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Boston and Plano are 1,535 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $306 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $112,253 in Plano, up $14,909 (15%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 62 in Plano, down 85 points (58%).
The move
Plano and Boston are 1,535 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $306 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $97,344 in Boston, down $14,909 (13%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 147 in Boston, up 85 points (137%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Plano rent is 14% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $2,147 in Boston, so Plano is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,672, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Plano still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Boston.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Plano's median income is 15% higher than Boston
Boston
$97,344
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $97,344 in Boston, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Plano (about $14,909 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. Boston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
58% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 58% lower than Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 147 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% 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. Boston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Plano weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano scores 72% 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 Boston 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 Boston
On these five categories Plano takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Boston because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Boston only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,841 a month. Choose Plano if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 15% 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 58% lower than Boston (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 48/100 in Boston, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $2,147. I would vet the exact ZIP in Boston before trading 27 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Plano vs 48/100 in Boston), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,841 in Plano and $2,147 in Boston.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 48/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Boston, treat $2,147/month rent and $97,344 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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