Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 22 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
1
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Plano
Texas
22
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Plano by $18,713/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Plano, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,713 more per year on average
Homes cost $66k less ($412,500 vs $478,400)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$18,713
$105,679 vs $86,966/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
69% lower
151.6 vs 489.7 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$66k less
$412,500 vs $478,400
Plano
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, 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 | $478,400⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent'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 22 of 23 categories. Kent wins 1 and Plano wins 22. 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 Kent to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $412,500 median home), income ($86,966 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Plano, TX are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.