City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 80 in Honolulu, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 57, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Honolulu is cheaper. Median rent is $1,823 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Honolulu and Plano is significant: $86,504 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,823 in Honolulu and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Honolulu 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 crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Honolulu has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Honolulu and Plano are 3,794 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $18 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $112,253 in Plano, up $25,749 (30%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 62 in Plano, down 18 points (23%).
The move
Plano and Honolulu are 3,794 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, down $18 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $86,504 in Honolulu, down $25,749 (23%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 80 in Honolulu, up 18 points (29%).
Honolulu, HI
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 Honolulu and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Honolulu rent is 1% cheaper than Plano
Honolulu
Winner$1,823/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,823 a month in Honolulu versus $1,841 in Plano, so Honolulu is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $18, or $216 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
30% higher
Plano's median income is 30% higher than Honolulu
Honolulu
$86,504
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $86,504 in Honolulu, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Plano (about $25,749 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. Honolulu can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
23% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 23% lower than Honolulu
Honolulu
80 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 80 in Honolulu (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% 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. Honolulu can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Honolulu and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Honolulu sits near 77°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 Honolulu
Honolulu is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,823 a month. Choose Honolulu 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 30% 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 23% lower than Honolulu (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Plano at $112,253 median income versus $86,504 in Honolulu. Housing ($1,823 in Honolulu, $1,841 in Plano) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Plano vs 67/100 in Honolulu), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Plano clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Honolulu deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,823/month beats chasing $112,253 median income.
Safety scores read 67/100 in Honolulu and 75/100 in Plano.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Honolulu and Plano, plus other cities in HI and TX.
