Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 15 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216
Plano
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $227/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,699)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $27,133/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Plano, TX
Pros
50% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Households earn $27,133 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Ann Arbor
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.4% unemployment
Plano
Median Income
$27,133
$105,679 vs $78,546/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
50% lower
151.6 vs 302.5 per 100k
Plano
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 22.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 58.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Ann Arbor is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 15 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 8 and Plano wins 15. 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 Ann Arbor to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $412,500 median home), income ($78,546 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Plano, TX are about 954 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.