City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 138 in Las Vegas, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 76 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Plano are 1,069 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $278 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $112,253 in Plano, up $38,376 (52%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 62 in Plano, down 76 points (55%).
The move
Plano and Las Vegas are 1,069 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $278 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $38,376 (34%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 138 in Las Vegas, up 76 points (123%).
Las Vegas, NV
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 Las Vegas and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 15% cheaper than Plano
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,841 in Plano, so Las Vegas is 15% 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 $3,336, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Las Vegas 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
52% higher
Plano's median income is 52% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Plano (about $38,376 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. Las Vegas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
55% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 55% lower than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
138 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 138 in Las Vegas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% 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. Las Vegas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Las Vegas and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Las Vegas
71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°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 Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,563 a month. Choose Las Vegas 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 52% 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 55% lower than Las Vegas (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
Las Vegas carries the heavier crime signal on this page (50/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 25-point spread matters more than the $278 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Las Vegas rent at $1,563/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,841 in Plano.
Pick Plano when you want the stronger safety signal (75/100). Otherwise, Las Vegas's case rests on a Las Vegas ZIP you trust at $1,563 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Plano?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Plano when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Plano, plus other cities in NV and TX.
