City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 121 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City 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. Oklahoma City 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. Oklahoma City at $1,130 average has pockets that run $930 and others at $1,530: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Oklahoma City and Plano are 175 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $711 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $112,253 in Plano, up $43,597 (64%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 62 in Plano, down 121 points (66%).
The move
Plano and Oklahoma City are 175 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $711 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, down $43,597 (39%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 121 points (195%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 39% cheaper than Plano
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,841 in Plano, so Oklahoma City is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $711/month back in your pocket ($8,532/year). Over five years that's $42,660 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, Oklahoma City 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
64% higher
Plano's median income is 64% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$68,656
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City, so typical pay runs 64% higher in Plano (about $43,597 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. Oklahoma City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
66% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 66% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% 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. Oklahoma City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Plano weather is 12% more comfortable than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano scores 12% 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 Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City 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 64% 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 66% lower than Oklahoma City (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 42/100 in Oklahoma City). Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,130 in Oklahoma City; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Plano still pays more locally ($112,253 median income vs $68,656), which can offset the lease if your field pays Plano rates.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Plano; Oklahoma City only makes sense when you have walked the Oklahoma City ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,130 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Plano, plus other cities in OK and TX.
