City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
Safety is where Washington and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 161 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Washington 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 Washington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Washington and Plano are 1,169 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $113 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $112,253 in Plano, up $2,383 (2%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 62 in Plano, down 161 points (72%).
The move
Plano and Washington are 1,169 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $113 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $109,870 in Washington, down $2,383 (2%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 223 in Washington, up 161 points (260%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Plano rent is 6% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $1,954 in Washington, so Plano is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $113, or $1,356 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
2% higher
Plano's median income is 2% higher than Washington
Washington
$109,870
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $109,870 in Washington, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Plano (about $2,383 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
72% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 72% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Washington 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 Washington
Washington
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington
On these five categories Plano takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Washington because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Washington only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% 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 72% lower than Washington (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
Washington carries the heavier crime signal on this page (36/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 39-point spread matters more than the $113 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Plano vs 36/100 in Washington), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,841 in Plano and $1,954 in Washington.
Pick Plano when you want the stronger safety signal (75/100). Otherwise, Washington's case rests on a Washington ZIP you trust at $1,954 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Plano, plus other cities in DC and TX.
