City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Denver and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 209 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver 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. Denver 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 Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Plano are 654 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $112,253 in Plano, up $17,535 (19%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 62 in Plano, down 209 points (77%).
The move
Plano and Denver are 654 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $94,718 in Denver, down $17,535 (16%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 271 in Denver, up 209 points (337%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Denver rent is 1% cheaper than Plano
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $1,841 in Plano, so Denver is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $10, or $120 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Plano's median income is 19% higher than Denver
Denver
$94,718
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $94,718 in Denver, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Plano (about $17,535 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. Denver can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
77% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 77% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Plano weather is 28% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Denver averages around 57°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 28% 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 Denver 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 Denver
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver 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 19% 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 77% lower than Denver (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Plano leads on safety (75/100 vs 30/100 in Denver). With rent tied near $1,841/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $94,718 in Denver — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Between Denver and Plano, Plano is ahead on safety — 75/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Denver instead when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 57°F in Denver and 69°F in Plano.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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