City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Plano and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Plano and St Petersburg split most clearly. Plano scores 103 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 $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. Plano wins on the job market and safety and St Petersburg wins on cost of living. 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 St Petersburg has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and St Petersburg are 905 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $178 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $37,061 (33%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 165 in St Petersburg, up 103 points (166%).
The move
St Petersburg and Plano are 905 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $178 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $112,253 in Plano, up $37,061 (49%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 62 in Plano, down 103 points (62%).
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Plano and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 10% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $1,841 in Plano, so St Petersburg is 10% 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 $2,136, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Petersburg 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
49% higher
Plano's median income is 49% higher than St Petersburg
Plano
Winner$112,253
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 49% higher in Plano (about $37,061 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. St Petersburg can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 62% lower than St Petersburg
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Plano and St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg sits near 77°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
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 49% 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 62% lower than St Petersburg (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 St Petersburg
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Plano: Plano scores 75/100 versus 45/100 in St Petersburg, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $1,663. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Petersburg before trading 30 safety points for housing savings.
St Petersburg rent at $1,663/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,663 in St Petersburg and $1,841 in Plano.
Pick Plano when you want the stronger safety signal (75/100). Otherwise, St Petersburg's case rests on a St Petersburg ZIP you trust at $1,663 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Plano and St Petersburg, plus other cities in TX and FL.
