Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 14 of 19 categories
Alafaya
Florida
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Plano
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($361,800 vs $412,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $12,428/yr
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Plano, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,428 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Alafaya
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Home Value
$51k less
$361,800 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$12,428
$105,679 vs $93,251/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 52 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Plano leads 14 of 19 categories. Alafaya wins 5 and Plano wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alafaya to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $412,500 median home), income ($93,251 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Plano, TX are about 974 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.