Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Plano
Texas
16
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Plano
Plano, TX
Pros
47% less violent crime than Arvada
Homes cost $141k less ($412,500 vs $553,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Plano
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Violent Crime
47% lower
151.6 vs 285.6 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$141k less
$412,500 vs $553,000
Plano
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $105,679 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 38.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 7 and Plano wins 16. 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 Arvada to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $412,500 median home), income ($106,014 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Plano, TX are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.