Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845
Plano
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $31,708 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Plano
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $421k less ($412,500 vs $833,300)
40% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $31,708/yr
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$31,708
$137,387 vs $105,679/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Plano
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Violent Crime
40% lower
151.6 vs 254.4 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$421k less
$412,500 vs $833,300
Plano
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $105,679 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 22.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 58.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 6 and Plano wins 17. 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 ($833,300 vs $412,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Plano, TX are about 1,167 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.