City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Cleveland and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 279 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland 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. Cleveland 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. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cleveland and Plano are 1,010 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $781 a month (74%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $112,253 in Plano, up $47,785 (74%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 62 in Plano, down 279 points (82%).
The move
Plano and Cleveland are 1,010 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $781 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $47,785 (43%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 341 in Cleveland, up 279 points (450%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 42% cheaper than Plano
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,841 in Plano, so Cleveland is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $781/month back in your pocket ($9,372/year). Over five years that's $46,860 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, Cleveland 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
74% higher
Plano's median income is 74% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland
$64,468
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 74% higher in Plano (about $47,785 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. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
82% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 82% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 82% 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. Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland 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 74% 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 82% lower than Cleveland (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
Cleveland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 52-point spread matters more than the $781 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Plano still pays more locally ($112,253 median income vs $64,468), which can offset the lease if your field pays Plano rates.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Cleveland, treat $1,060/month rent and $64,468 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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