City comparison
Plano is safer than Phoenix. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Phoenix is cheaper. Median rent is $1,582 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Phoenix and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 112 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,582 in Phoenix 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. Phoenix 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 Phoenix has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Phoenix and Plano are 888 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $259 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $112,253 in Plano, up $30,921 (38%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 62 in Plano, down 112 points (64%).
The move
Plano and Phoenix are 888 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, down $259 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $81,332 in Phoenix, down $30,921 (28%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 174 in Phoenix, up 112 points (181%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Phoenix rent is 14% cheaper than Plano
Phoenix
Winner$1,582/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,582 a month in Phoenix versus $1,841 in Plano, so Phoenix 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 $3,108, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Phoenix 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
38% higher
Plano's median income is 38% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix
$81,332
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $81,332 in Phoenix, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Plano (about $30,921 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. Phoenix can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
64% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 64% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Phoenix 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 Phoenix
Phoenix
81°F avg · 88°F highs · comfort 97/100
Plano
Winner71°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (88°F highs); Plano averages about 71°F (79°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Plano sits near 71°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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix
Phoenix is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,582 a month. Choose Phoenix 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 38% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°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 64% lower than Phoenix (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
Safety is the widest gap: Plano scores 75/100 versus 43/100 in Phoenix. Rent is $1,841/month in Plano and $1,582/month in Phoenix, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Phoenix rent at $1,582/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,841 in Plano.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Plano; Phoenix only makes sense when you have walked the Phoenix ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,582 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Plano, plus other cities in AZ and TX.
