Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 14 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($251,300 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,699)
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $33,943/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $33,943 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$161k less
$251,300 vs $412,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
Plano
Median Income
$33,943
$105,679 vs $71,736/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
69% lower
151.6 vs 482.9 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Plano leads 14 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 8 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 Arlington to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $412,500 median home), income ($71,736 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Plano, TX are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.