City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 93 in Tampa, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 112, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Tampa and Plano is significant: $75,475 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Tampa wins on cost of living and Plano wins on the job market 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 crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Tampa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tampa and Plano are 916 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $140 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $112,253 in Plano, up $36,778 (49%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 62 in Plano, down 31 points (33%).
The move
Plano and Tampa are 916 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $140 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $75,475 in Tampa, down $36,778 (33%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 93 in Tampa, up 31 points (50%).
Tampa, FL
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 Tampa and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Tampa rent is 8% cheaper than Plano
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $1,841 in Plano, so Tampa is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $140, or $1,680 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
49% higher
Plano's median income is 49% higher than Tampa
Tampa
$75,475
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 49% higher in Plano (about $36,778 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. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
33% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 33% lower than Tampa
Tampa
93 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 93 in Tampa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% 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. Tampa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Tampa and Plano are about even on typical weather.
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Tampa
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,701 a month. Choose Tampa 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 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 33% lower than Tampa (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
Pay is the headline: Plano median income is $112,253 versus $75,475 in Tampa (33% higher). Rent still runs $1,841/month in Plano and $1,701/month in Tampa, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Plano rates.
With only $140 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,701 in Tampa and $1,841 in Plano.
If local pay drives your move, Plano is the stronger match ($112,253 median income against $75,475). If an employer or family tie already points to Tampa, treat $1,701/month rent and $75,475 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Plano when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Plano, plus other cities in FL and TX.
