City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 201 in Charlotte, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 187, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Charlotte is cheaper. Median rent is $1,612 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Charlotte and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 139 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,612 in Charlotte 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. Charlotte 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 Charlotte has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Charlotte and Plano are 919 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,612 a month in Charlotte to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $229 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $82,068 in Charlotte to $112,253 in Plano, up $30,185 (37%).
The crime index goes from 201 in Charlotte to 62 in Plano, down 139 points (69%).
The move
Plano and Charlotte are 919 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,612 a month in Charlotte, down $229 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $82,068 in Charlotte, down $30,185 (27%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 201 in Charlotte, up 139 points (224%).
Charlotte, NC
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 Charlotte and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Charlotte rent is 12% cheaper than Plano
Charlotte
Winner$1,612/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,612 a month in Charlotte versus $1,841 in Plano, so Charlotte is 12% 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 $2,748, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Charlotte still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Plano.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Plano's median income is 37% higher than Charlotte
Charlotte
$82,068
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $82,068 in Charlotte, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Plano (about $30,185 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. Charlotte 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 Charlotte
Charlotte
201 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 201 in Charlotte (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. Charlotte can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Plano weather is 20% more comfortable than Charlotte
Charlotte
59°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 83/100
Plano
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Charlotte averages about 59°F (69°F highs); Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs). Charlotte averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Plano sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano scores 20% 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 Charlotte 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 Charlotte
Charlotte is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,612 a month. Choose Charlotte 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 37% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°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 Charlotte (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 39/100 in Charlotte, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $1,612. I would vet the exact ZIP in Charlotte before trading 36 safety points for housing savings.
Charlotte rent at $1,612/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Charlotte and 65°F in Plano.
Plano clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Charlotte deserves a serious look only when you already know the Charlotte block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Charlotte and Plano, plus other cities in NC and TX.
