City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Nashville and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 220 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville 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. Nashville 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 crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Plano are 604 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $255 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $112,253 in Plano, up $34,882 (45%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 62 in Plano, down 220 points (78%).
The move
Plano and Nashville are 604 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $255 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $77,371 in Nashville, down $34,882 (31%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 282 in Nashville, up 220 points (355%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Nashville rent is 14% cheaper than Plano
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $1,841 in Plano, so Nashville is 14% 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 $3,060, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Nashville 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
45% higher
Plano's median income is 45% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Plano (about $34,882 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. Nashville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
78% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 78% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Nashville 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 Nashville
Nashville
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Plano sits near 69°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 Nashville 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 Nashville
Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Nashville 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 45% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°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 78% lower than Nashville (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Plano leads on safety (75/100 vs 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Nashville rent at $1,586/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,586 in Nashville and $1,841 in Plano.
Between Nashville and Plano, Plano is ahead on safety — 75/100 safety versus 28/100. Lean Nashville instead when you already know the Nashville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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 Nashville and Plano, plus other cities in TN and TX.
