City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 169 in New York, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 195, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
New York is cheaper. Median rent is $1,821 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where New York and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 107 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,821 in New York 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. New York 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 New York has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New York and Plano are 1,357 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $20 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $112,253 in Plano, up $31,770 (39%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 62 in Plano, down 107 points (63%).
The move
Plano and New York are 1,357 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,821 a month in New York, down $20 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $80,483 in New York, down $31,770 (28%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 169 in New York, up 107 points (173%).
New York, NY
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 New York and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
New York rent is 1% cheaper than Plano
New York
Winner$1,821/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,821 a month in New York versus $1,841 in Plano, so New York is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $20, or $240 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
39% higher
Plano's median income is 39% higher than New York
New York
$80,483
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $80,483 in New York, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Plano (about $31,770 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. New York can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
63% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 63% lower than New York
New York
169 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 169 in New York (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. New York can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Plano weather is 56% more comfortable than New York
New York
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). New York averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano scores 56% 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 New York 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 New York
New York is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,821 a month. Choose New York 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 39% 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 63% lower than New York (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
New York carries the heavier crime signal on this page (44/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 31-point spread matters more than the $20 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $80,483 in New York — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 52°F in New York and 69°F in Plano.
Plano clears the bar on safety in this dataset. New York deserves a serious look only when you already know the New York block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Plano, plus other cities in NY and TX.
