City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Houston and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 208 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Houston 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. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Plano are 238 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $480 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $112,253 in Plano, up $47,440 (73%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 62 in Plano, down 208 points (77%).
The move
Plano and Houston are 238 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $480 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $64,813 in Houston, down $47,440 (42%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 270 in Houston, up 208 points (335%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Houston rent is 26% cheaper than Plano
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,841 in Plano, so Houston is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $480/month back in your pocket ($5,760/year). Over five years that's $28,800 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, Houston 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
73% higher
Plano's median income is 73% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 73% higher in Plano (about $47,440 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. Houston 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 Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 270 in Houston (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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Houston sits near 70°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 Houston
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston 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 73% 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 77% lower than Houston (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 30/100 in Houston. Rent is $1,841/month in Plano and $1,361/month in Houston, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $1,841 in Plano.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Plano; Houston only makes sense when you have walked the Houston ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,361 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Plano when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Plano, plus other cities in TX.
