City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Memphis and Plano is significant: $51,736 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis 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. Memphis 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. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Plano are 408 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $660 a month (56%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $112,253 in Plano, up $60,517 (117%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 62 in Plano, down 433 points (87%).
The move
Plano and Memphis are 408 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $660 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $51,736 in Memphis, down $60,517 (54%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 495 in Memphis, up 433 points (698%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Memphis rent is 36% cheaper than Plano
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,841 in Plano, so Memphis is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $660/month back in your pocket ($7,920/year). Over five years that's $39,600 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, Memphis 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
117% higher
Plano's median income is 117% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 117% higher in Plano (about $60,517 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
87% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 87% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 87% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Plano weather is 3% more comfortable than Memphis
Memphis
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Plano
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs). Memphis averages around 64°F. Plano sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano scores 3% 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 Memphis 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 Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis 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 117% 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 87% lower than Memphis (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
Memphis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (11/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 64-point spread matters more than the $660 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Memphis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Memphis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Plano, plus other cities in TN and TX.
