Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 12 of 23 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
97,542
Plano
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Homes cost $16k less ($396,100 vs $412,500)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Median income trails Plano by $8,372/yr
Plano, TX
Pros
17% less violent crime than Goodyear
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 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Goodyear
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$16k less
$396,100 vs $412,500
Goodyear
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 94.3°F
Plano
Median Income
$8,372
$105,679 vs $97,307/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
17% lower
151.6 vs 182.2 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 38.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 12 of 23 categories. Goodyear wins 11 and Plano wins 12. 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 Goodyear to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $412,500 median home), income ($97,307 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Plano, TX are about 903 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.