City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 73 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth 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. Fort Worth at $1,509 average has pockets that run $1,309 and others at $1,909: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Plano are 41 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $332 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $112,253 in Plano, up $32,746 (41%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 62 in Plano, down 73 points (54%).
The move
Plano and Fort Worth are 41 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $332 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $32,746 (29%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 135 in Fort Worth, up 73 points (118%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 18% cheaper than Plano
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,841 in Plano, so Fort Worth 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 $3,984, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fort Worth 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
41% higher
Plano's median income is 41% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Plano (about $32,746 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. Fort Worth can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 54% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Fort Worth can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 65°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 Fort Worth
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,509 a month. Choose Fort Worth 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 41% 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 54% lower than Fort Worth (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
Safety is the widest gap: Plano scores 75/100 versus 51/100 in Fort Worth. Rent is $1,841/month in Plano and $1,509/month in Fort Worth, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,841 in Plano.
Between Fort Worth and Plano, Plano is ahead on safety — 75/100 safety versus 51/100. Lean Fort Worth instead when you already know the Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth and Plano, plus other cities in TX.
