Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
17
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($212,500 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $538/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,699)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $42,685/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $42,685 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Columbus
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 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$200k less
$212,500 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$42,685
$105,679 vs $62,994/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
65% lower
151.6 vs 434.9 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $412,500 median home), income ($62,994 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Plano, TX are about 900 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.