City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Durham and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 131 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham 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. Durham 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. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Durham and Plano are 1,033 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $333 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $112,253 in Plano, up $30,634 (38%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 62 in Plano, down 131 points (68%).
The move
Plano and Durham are 1,033 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $333 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $81,619 in Durham, down $30,634 (27%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 193 in Durham, up 131 points (211%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Durham rent is 18% cheaper than Plano
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,841 in Plano, so Durham is 18% 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 $3,996, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham 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
38% higher
Plano's median income is 38% higher than Durham
Durham
$81,619
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Plano (about $30,634 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. Durham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
68% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 68% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Plano weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Durham averages around 59°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 20% 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 Durham 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 Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham 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 38% 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 68% lower than Durham (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 40/100 in Durham). Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,508 in Durham; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $1,841 in Plano.
Between Durham and Plano, Plano is ahead on safety — 75/100 safety versus 40/100. Lean Durham instead when you already know the Durham 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 Durham and Plano, plus other cities in NC and TX.
