Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Plano
Texas
12
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($207,800 vs $412,500)
63% less violent crime than Plano
Rent averages $482/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,699)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $47,389/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $47,389 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Lakeland
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
63% lower
56.0 vs 151.6 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$205k less
$207,800 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$47,389
$105,679 vs $58,290/yr
Plano
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 38.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakeland 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 Lakeland to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $412,500 median home), income ($58,290 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Plano, TX are about 944 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.