City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 164 in Columbus, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 140, using 2024 FBI data for Columbus and 2024-2025 FBI data for Plano.
Columbus is cheaper. Median rent is $1,295 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Columbus and Plano is significant: $66,082 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,295 in Columbus 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. Columbus 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. Columbus at $1,295 average has pockets that run $1,095 and others at $1,695: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Columbus and Plano are 898 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $546 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $112,253 in Plano, up $46,171 (70%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 62 in Plano, down 102 points (62%).
The move
Plano and Columbus are 898 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,295 a month in Columbus, down $546 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $66,082 in Columbus, down $46,171 (41%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 164 in Columbus, up 102 points (165%).
Columbus, 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 Columbus and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Columbus rent is 30% cheaper than Plano
Columbus
Winner$1,295/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,295 a month in Columbus versus $1,841 in Plano, so Columbus is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $546/month back in your pocket ($6,552/year). Over five years that's $32,760 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, Columbus 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
70% higher
Plano's median income is 70% higher than Columbus
Columbus
$66,082
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 70% higher in Plano (about $46,171 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. Columbus can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 62% lower than Columbus
Columbus
164 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 164 in Columbus (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Columbus 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 Columbus
Columbus
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Columbus averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Columbus
Columbus is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,295 a month. Choose Columbus 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 70% 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 62% lower than Columbus (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 45/100 in Columbus, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $1,295. I would vet the exact ZIP in Columbus before trading 30 safety points for housing savings.
Columbus rent at $1,295/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,295 in Columbus and $1,841 in Plano.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 45/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Columbus, treat $1,295/month rent and $66,082 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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