City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Chicago and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 105 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago 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. Chicago 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Chicago at $1,440 average has pockets that run $1,240 and others at $1,840: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and Plano are 786 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $401 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $112,253 in Plano, up $34,351 (44%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 62 in Plano, down 105 points (63%).
The move
Plano and Chicago are 786 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $401 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $77,902 in Chicago, down $34,351 (31%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 167 in Chicago, up 105 points (169%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Chicago rent is 22% cheaper than Plano
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,841 in Plano, so Chicago is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $401/month back in your pocket ($4,812/year). Over five years that's $24,060 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, Chicago 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
44% higher
Plano's median income is 44% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Plano (about $34,351 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. Chicago can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
63% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 63% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Plano weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°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 52% 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 Chicago 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 Chicago
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago 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 44% 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 63% lower than Chicago (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
Chicago carries the heavier crime signal on this page (44/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 31-point spread matters more than the $401 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Chicago rent at $1,440/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 53°F in Chicago and 69°F in Plano.
Plano clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Chicago deserves a serious look only when you already know the Chicago 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 Chicago and Plano, plus other cities in IL and TX.
