Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Plano
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679
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.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $43,872 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $727k less ($412,500 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $723/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,422)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $43,872/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$43,872
$149,551 vs $105,679/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
9% lower
138.6 vs 151.6 per 100k
Plano
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Home Value
$727k less
$412,500 vs $1,139,500
Plano
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $105,679 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 22.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 58.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellevue 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 Bellevue to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $412,500 median home), income ($149,551 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Plano, TX are about 1,661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.