City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Raleigh and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 80 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh 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. Raleigh 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 Raleigh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Plano are 1,045 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $269 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $112,253 in Plano, up $26,858 (31%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 62 in Plano, down 80 points (56%).
The move
Plano and Raleigh are 1,045 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $269 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $26,858 (24%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 142 in Raleigh, up 80 points (129%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 15% cheaper than Plano
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,841 in Plano, so Raleigh 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 $3,228, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh 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
31% higher
Plano's median income is 31% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh
$85,395
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Plano (about $26,858 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. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 56% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh 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 31% 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 56% lower than Raleigh (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
Raleigh carries the heavier crime signal on this page (49/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 26-point spread matters more than the $269 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Raleigh rent at $1,572/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,572 in Raleigh 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 Raleigh, treat $1,572/month rent and $85,395 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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