City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
Safety is where Seattle and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 190 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,030 in Seattle and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle 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 Seattle has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Seattle and Plano are 1,672 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $189 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $112,253 in Plano, down $11,607 (9%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 62 in Plano, down 190 points (75%).
The move
Plano and Seattle are 1,672 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $189 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $123,860 in Seattle, up $11,607 (10%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 252 in Seattle, up 190 points (306%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Plano rent is 9% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Plano is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $189, or $2,268 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Seattle's median income is 10% higher than Plano
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Plano
$112,253
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $112,253 in Plano, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Seattle (about $11,607 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 75% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Plano weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano scores 39% 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 Seattle 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 and professional growth
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% 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.
Pick Plano if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (69°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Plano is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 75% lower than Seattle (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Plano leads on safety (75/100 vs 32/100 in Seattle). Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $2,030 in Seattle; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Plano vs 32/100 in Seattle), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $112,253 in Plano.
Plano is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 32/100); Seattle is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $2,030/month rent plus $123,860 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Plano, plus other cities in WA and TX.
