City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 144 in Glendale, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 135, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Plano and Glendale split most clearly. Plano scores 82 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,841 in Plano and $1,528 in Glendale.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Glendale 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. Glendale at $1,528 average has pockets that run $1,328 and others at $1,928: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Plano and Glendale are 894 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $313 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $73,530 in Glendale, down $38,723 (34%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 144 in Glendale, up 82 points (132%).
The move
Glendale and Plano are 894 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $313 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $112,253 in Plano, up $38,723 (53%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 62 in Plano, down 82 points (57%).
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Plano and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Glendale rent is 17% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,841 in Plano, so Glendale is 17% 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 $3,756, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Glendale 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
53% higher
Plano's median income is 53% higher than Glendale
Plano
Winner$112,253
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 53% higher in Plano (about $38,723 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. Glendale can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 57% lower than Glendale
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Glendale
144 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 144 in Glendale (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Glendale 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 Glendale
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. 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 Glendale if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 53% 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 57% lower than Glendale (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Glendale
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,528 a month. Choose Glendale if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Glendale carries the heavier crime signal on this page (49/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 26-point spread matters more than the $313 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Glendale rent at $1,528/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,528 in Glendale and $1,841 in Plano.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 49/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Glendale, treat $1,528/month rent and $73,530 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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