City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 151 in Reno, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Plano and Reno split most clearly. Plano scores 89 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 $1,556 in Reno.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Reno 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 Reno has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and Reno are 1,359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $285 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $80,760 in Reno, down $31,493 (28%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 151 in Reno, up 89 points (144%).
The move
Reno and Plano are 1,359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $285 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $112,253 in Plano, up $31,493 (39%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 62 in Plano, down 89 points (59%).
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Plano and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Reno rent is 15% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,841 in Plano, so Reno is 15% 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 $3,420, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Reno 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
39% higher
Plano's median income is 39% higher than Reno
Plano
Winner$112,253
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Plano (about $31,493 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. Reno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 59% lower than Reno
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Reno
151 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 151 in Reno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Reno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Plano weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno averages around 62°F. Plano scores 9% 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 Reno 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 39% 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 59% lower than Reno (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 Reno
Reno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,556 a month. Choose Reno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Plano leads on safety (75/100 vs 47/100 in Reno). Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,556 in Reno; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Reno rent at $1,556/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,556 in Reno and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 47/100); Reno is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,556/month rent plus $80,760 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
Ready to move to Plano?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Plano when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Plano and Reno, plus other cities in TX and NV.
