City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Greensboro and Plano is significant: $61,515 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,172 in Greensboro 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. Greensboro 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. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Greensboro and Plano are 984 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $669 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $112,253 in Plano, up $50,738 (82%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 62 in Plano, down 152 points (71%).
The move
Plano and Greensboro are 984 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $669 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $50,738 (45%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 214 in Greensboro, up 152 points (245%).
Greensboro, 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 Greensboro and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 36% cheaper than Plano
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,841 in Plano, so Greensboro is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $669/month back in your pocket ($8,028/year). Over five years that's $40,140 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, Greensboro 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
82% higher
Plano's median income is 82% higher than Greensboro
Greensboro
$61,515
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 82% higher in Plano (about $50,738 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. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
71% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 71% lower than Greensboro
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Plano weather is 33% more comfortable than Greensboro
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Greensboro averages around 56°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 33% 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 Greensboro 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 Greensboro
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro 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 82% 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 71% lower than Greensboro (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
Greensboro carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 38-point spread matters more than the $669 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Greensboro rent at $1,172/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,172 in Greensboro and $1,841 in Plano.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 37/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Greensboro, treat $1,172/month rent and $61,515 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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