City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Portland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,655 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Portland and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 203 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland 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. Portland 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 Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Plano are 1,625 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $186 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $112,253 in Plano, up $21,334 (23%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 62 in Plano, down 203 points (77%).
The move
Plano and Portland are 1,625 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,655 a month in Portland, down $186 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $90,919 in Portland, down $21,334 (19%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 265 in Portland, up 203 points (327%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Portland rent is 10% cheaper than Plano
Portland
Winner$1,655/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,841 in Plano, so Portland 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 $2,232, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Portland 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
23% higher
Plano's median income is 23% higher than Portland
Portland
$90,919
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $90,919 in Portland, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Plano (about $21,334 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. Portland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
77% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 77% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Plano weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano scores 16% 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 Portland 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 Portland
Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,655 a month. Choose Portland 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 23% 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 77% lower than Portland (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
Portland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 45-point spread matters more than the $186 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Portland rent at $1,655/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Portland and 69°F in Plano.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Portland, treat $1,655/month rent and $90,919 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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