City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
Safety is where San Francisco and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 121 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Plano wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Plano at $1,841 average has pockets that run $1,641 and others at $2,241: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Plano are 1,480 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $635 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $112,253 in Plano, down $28,717 (20%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 62 in Plano, down 121 points (66%).
The move
Plano and San Francisco are 1,480 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $635 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $28,717 (26%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 183 in San Francisco, up 121 points (195%).
San Francisco, CA
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 San Francisco and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Plano rent is 26% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Plano is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $635/month back in your pocket ($7,620/year). Over five years that's $38,100 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 San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Plano 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
26% higher
San Francisco's median income is 26% higher than Plano
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Plano
$112,253
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $112,253 in Plano, so typical pay runs 26% higher in San Francisco (about $28,717 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, San Francisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Plano can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
66% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 66% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% 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. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Francisco and Plano are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 69°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
San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,841 a month. Choose Plano if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 66% lower than San Francisco (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Plano: Plano scores 75/100 versus 42/100 in San Francisco, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $2,476. I would vet the exact ZIP in San Francisco before trading 33 safety points for housing savings.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $112,253), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Median income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $112,253 in Plano.
Plano clears the bar on safety in this dataset. San Francisco deserves a serious look only when you already know the San Francisco block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Plano, plus other cities in CA and TX.
