City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 134 in Huntsville, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 127, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Plano and Huntsville split most clearly. Plano scores 72 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 $1,171 in Huntsville.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Huntsville 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. Huntsville at $1,171 average has pockets that run $971 and others at $1,571: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Plano and Huntsville are 592 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $670 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $37,539 (33%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 134 in Huntsville, up 72 points (116%).
The move
Huntsville and Plano are 592 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $670 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $112,253 in Plano, up $37,539 (50%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 62 in Plano, down 72 points (54%).
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Plano and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 36% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,841 in Plano, so Huntsville is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $670/month back in your pocket ($8,040/year). Over five years that's $40,200 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, Huntsville 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
50% higher
Plano's median income is 50% higher than Huntsville
Plano
Winner$112,253
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 50% higher in Plano (about $37,539 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. Huntsville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 54% lower than Huntsville
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
134 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 134 in Huntsville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Huntsville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Plano weather is 25% more comfortable than Huntsville
Plano
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Huntsville
58°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 80/100
Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Huntsville averages about 58°F (69°F highs). Plano sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Huntsville averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Plano scores 25% 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 Huntsville 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 50% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°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 54% lower than Huntsville (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 Huntsville
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% cheaper here at about $1,171 a month. Choose Huntsville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Huntsville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (51/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 24-point spread matters more than the $670 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Plano still pays more locally ($112,253 median income vs $74,714), which can offset the lease if your field pays Plano rates.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $74,714 in Huntsville.
Plano clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Huntsville deserves a serious look only when you already know the Huntsville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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