Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 19 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Median income trails Plano by $19,826/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Plano, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $128k less ($412,500 vs $540,400)
Households earn $19,826 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$19,826
$105,679 vs $85,853/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
85% lower
151.6 vs 993.0 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$128k less
$412,500 vs $540,400
Plano
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, 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 | $540,400⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver'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 19 of 23 categories. Denver wins 4 and Plano wins 19. 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 Denver to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $412,500 median home), income ($85,853 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Plano, TX are about 647 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.