City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Plano.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Orlando and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 180 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Orlando wins on cost of living and Plano wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Orlando and Plano are 960 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $94 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $112,253 in Plano, up $39,917 (55%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 62 in Plano, down 180 points (74%).
The move
Plano and Orlando are 960 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $94 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $72,336 in Orlando, down $39,917 (36%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 242 in Orlando, up 180 points (290%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Orlando rent is 5% cheaper than Plano
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $1,841 in Plano, so Orlando is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $94, or $1,128 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
55% higher
Plano's median income is 55% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 55% higher in Plano (about $39,917 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. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
74% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 74% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Orlando and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Orlando
71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°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 Orlando
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,747 a month. Choose Orlando 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 and professional growth
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 55% 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 74% lower than Orlando (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
Orlando carries the heavier crime signal on this page (33/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 42-point spread matters more than the $94 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Orlando rent at $1,747/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,747 in Orlando and $1,841 in Plano.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 33/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Orlando, treat $1,747/month rent and $72,336 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and Plano, plus other cities in FL and TX.
