Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Chandler leads 13 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618
Plano
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
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.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails Plano by $6,305/yr
Plano, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Households earn $6,305 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Chandler
Violent Crime
12% lower
133.4 vs 151.6 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 94.3°F
Plano
Median Income
$6,305
$105,679 vs $99,374/yr
Plano
Median Home Value
$11k less
$412,500 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 13 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 13 and Plano wins 10. 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 Chandler to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $412,500 median home), income ($99,374 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Plano, TX are about 873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.