City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 372 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Oakland 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 Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oakland and Plano are 1,472 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $138 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $112,253 in Plano, up $10,653 (10%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 62 in Plano, down 372 points (86%).
The move
Plano and Oakland are 1,472 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $138 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $101,600 in Oakland, down $10,653 (9%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 434 in Oakland, up 372 points (600%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Plano rent is 7% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Plano is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $138, or $1,656 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
10% higher
Plano's median income is 10% higher than Oakland
Oakland
$101,600
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $101,600 in Oakland, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Plano (about $10,653 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
86% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 86% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 86% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Oakland and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°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 Oakland
On these five categories Plano takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Oakland because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Oakland only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,841 a month. Choose Plano if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% 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 86% lower than Oakland (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 15/100 in Oakland). Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,979 in Oakland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $138 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,841 in Plano and $1,979 in Oakland.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Plano; Oakland only makes sense when you have walked the Oakland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,979 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Plano when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oakland and Plano, plus other cities in CA and TX.
