City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Dallas and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 126 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Plano wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Plano are 18 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $369 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $112,253 in Plano, up $41,735 (59%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 62 in Plano, down 126 points (67%).
The move
Plano and Dallas are 18 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $369 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $70,518 in Dallas, down $41,735 (37%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 188 in Dallas, up 126 points (203%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Dallas rent is 20% cheaper than Plano
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,841 in Plano, so Dallas is 20% 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 $4,428, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas 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
59% higher
Plano's median income is 59% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 59% higher in Plano (about $41,735 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
67% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 67% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas 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 and professional growth
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 59% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Dallas (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 41/100 in Dallas, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $1,472. I would vet the exact ZIP in Dallas before trading 34 safety points for housing savings.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Dallas and $1,841 in Plano.
Pick Plano when you want the stronger safety signal (75/100). Otherwise, Dallas's case rests on a Dallas ZIP you trust at $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Plano when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Plano, plus other cities in TX.
