City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Louisville and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 147 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,120 in Louisville 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. Louisville 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. Louisville at $1,120 average has pockets that run $920 and others at $1,520: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Louisville and Plano are 712 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $721 a month (64%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $112,253 in Plano, up $45,404 (68%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 62 in Plano, down 147 points (70%).
The move
Plano and Louisville are 712 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $721 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $66,849 in Louisville, down $45,404 (40%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 209 in Louisville, up 147 points (237%).
Louisville, KY
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 Louisville and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Louisville rent is 39% cheaper than Plano
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,841 in Plano, so Louisville is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $721/month back in your pocket ($8,652/year). Over five years that's $43,260 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, Louisville 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
68% higher
Plano's median income is 68% higher than Louisville
Louisville
$66,849
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 68% higher in Plano (about $45,404 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. Louisville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
70% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 70% lower than Louisville
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% 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. Louisville 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 Louisville
Louisville
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Plano
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Plano sits near 65°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 Louisville 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 Louisville
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville 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 68% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°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 70% lower than Louisville (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 38/100 in Louisville. Rent is $1,841/month in Plano and $1,120/month in Louisville, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Plano still pays more locally ($112,253 median income vs $66,849), which can offset the lease if your field pays Plano rates.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $66,849 in Louisville.
Plano is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 38/100); Louisville is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,120/month rent plus $66,849 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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